Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, has broken ground on a new manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, North Carolina — its first site on the US East Coast. The 65,000 m² facility is designed to support production of Genentech’s future metabolic medicines portfolio, including next-generation therapies for obesity.

The project represents an initial investment of more than USD 700 million and is part of Roche’s broader USD 50 billion commitment to strengthen US manufacturing infrastructure and R&D. Once completed, the site will create over 1,900 jobs.

“This state-of-the-art facility will play a vital role in producing our next-generation obesity treatments,” said Thomas Schinecker, CEO of Roche Group. “It underscores our USD 50 billion commitment to innovation, job creation, and delivering life-changing medicines to patients across the US and globally.”

Holly Springs was chosen for its skilled workforce, strong academic ecosystem, and proximity to leading life sciences companies. The facility, expected to be operational by 2029, will feature advanced automation, digital capabilities, and modern biomanufacturing technologies. Built on a 400,000 m² site, it also allows space for future expansion.

The new facility is part of Roche’s strategy to expand manufacturing capacity and strengthen supply chain resilience, complementing its existing sites in Europe and Switzerland. Founded in 1896, Roche has grown into the world’s largest biotech company and a global leader in in-vitro diagnostics.