Together, the two drug substance facilities will total more than 500,000 square feet.

Amgen said the combined $1.5 billion investment is a testament to the importance of US-based manufacturing, particularly in the life sciences hub of North Carolina's Research Triangle, where the facility is located.

"We thought long and hard about where to build this plant. We chose Holly Springs because the Research Triangle area offers unbeatable advantages, including a welcoming investment climate, a thriving innovation ecosystem, and a diverse and skilled workforce," said Amgen CEO Bob Bradway. "This plant will further strengthen our ability to provide an uninterrupted supply of our medicines for patients suffering from heart disease, cancer, and other serious illnesses."

According to Amgen, its North Carolina facility features a unique approach to manufacturing capability, combining a traditional stainless steel-fed batch plant with a single-use technology plant. The result is a more flexible and efficient facility, with a smaller physical footprint and 50% less water usage than a traditional plant, supporting Amgen’s sustainability goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2027, the company said.

Located in the heart of North Carolina's Research Triangle, the Holly Springs site in the Camp Helix Innovation Park, the newly opened facility is expected to employ more than 350 full-time employees, and the new expansion is anticipated to bring a total of more than 700 jobs to the region by 2030.