Warner, Kaine Applaud Merck Investment in Elkton Vaccine Manufacturing Facility
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) applauded the announcement that Merck will invest $3 billion to expand its Elkton vaccine manufacturing facility. This investment will create between 300 and 500 permanent jobs, in addition to new jobs related to construction to support the expansion.
“Merck’s decision to significantly expand its Elkton operations is a testament to Virginia’s world-class workforce and business climate, and builds on recent federal and state investments to position the Commonwealth as a national leader in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production,” said Warner. “By bringing API manufacturing and the vast majority of its global small molecule production here, Merck is making a long-term investment in our economy while strengthening America’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity. This expansion will create hundreds of good-paying jobs in the Shenandoah Valley and reaffirm Virginia’s leadership in the life sciences sector. I’m also glad Merck will continue to produce in Elkton its cancer-preventing vaccine and other childhood vaccines at a time when political attacks and misinformation are undermining trust in medicine and public health – even as vaccines remain one of the most revolutionary, life-saving innovations in history.”
“Merck’s $3 billion investment in Elkton is welcome news for Virginia’s economy, and is a testament to our incredible workforce and reputation as an exceptional hub for the manufacturing of life-saving medicines and vaccines,” said Kaine. “It’s been a pleasure to work with Merck over the last 20 or so years to continue expanding this facility, and to have had the chance to visit with the Virginians whose hard work there plays an integral role in the health and well-being of Americans and people around the world. The Gardasil vaccine has led to the drastic reduction of HPV cancers worldwide—and I’m proud to have included the vaccine as part of Virginia’s mandate when I was Governor, making Virginia the first state to do so. Particularly as the Trump Administration sows doubt about the effectiveness of vaccines, it couldn’t be more important that we recognize and celebrate the impressive progress that Virginians and Merck have shared with the world.”
Construction to support the expansion will begin this year and is expected to be completed by 2029.
Warner and Kaine have been longtime advocates of Merck’s expansion in Virginia and investments in biotechnology research and manufacturing across the Commonwealth. In 2021, they secured more than $52 million for the Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing cluster in Petersburg under the American Rescue Plan. In 2023, the Petersburg cluster was designated as a Tech Hub under the Chips and Science Act, which Warner championed in Congress.
As Governor, Warner secured a $40 million investment from Merck to prepare and grow its Elkton facility in order to produce a vaccine candidate in the company’s pipeline. In 2006, while Governor of Virginia, Kaine helped secure a further $57 million from Merck to expand the role its Elkton facility plays in producing Gardasil, Merck’s cervical cancer vaccine. In August 2022, Kaine visited the facility to tour its operations and meet with workers. He helped form and grow the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority while he was on Richmond City Council, served on the Authority’s board as Mayor of Richmond, and appointed its board members as Governor of Virginia.
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