Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is developing a new biologics manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina, US.
Announced in October 2024, the facility represents a $2bn investment and is part of J&J’s broader commitment to enhance its research, development, and manufacturing investments in the US to exceed $55bn by 2029.
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The ground-breaking ceremony for the new facility took place in March 2025, and it is expected to be operational by 2028.
Location of J&J’s biologics manufacturing facility
J&J’s new manufacturing facility is being developed in Wilson Corporate Park.
The site lies adjacent to I-95 near its intersection with US 264A and is served by Merck Road, International Parkway, Corporate Parkway and Lamm Road.
Details of J&J’s biologics manufacturing facility
J&J’s biologics manufacturing facility will span 500,000ft² (46,451.52m²) and will be equipped with the latest technologies.
The digitally enabled site will support the company’s plans to advance its portfolio and pipeline of transformational medicines for cancer, immune-mediated and neurological diseases.
Furthermore, the facility will increase manufacturing capacity for J&J’s existing products and development-stage biologics, supporting the company’s wider ambition to launch more than 70 new therapies and product expansions by the end of the decade.
J&J’s transformational medicines portfolio details
J&J’s transformational medicines portfolio centres on four key therapeutic areas, notably oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiopulmonary health.
In the oncology sector, the focus encompasses multiple myeloma, B-cell and myeloid malignancies, as well as blood, prostate, and lung cancers. The company holds more than 11 innovative therapies approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma.
Among the approved medications in this segment are DARZALEX® for multiple myeloma, PROCRIT® for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and HIV, and LAZCLUZE™ for lung cancer patients.
In the field of immunology, the focus is on gastroenterology, immunohematology, respiratory conditions, and autoantibody and rheumatoid diseases. Notable approved medications for this therapeutic area include REMICADE® for Crohn’s disease and arthritis, and SIMPONI® for arthritis.
J&J’s focus in the neuroscience therapy area includes conditions such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, myasthenia gravis, and geographic atrophy.
Approved medications in this area comprise TOPAMAX® for epilepsy, INVEGA® for schizophrenia, and CONCERTA® for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
The disease areas that J&J focuses on within the cardiopulmonary therapeutic area include pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), stroke, atrial fibrillation, and acute coronary syndrome.
Approved medications in the area include OPSUMIT® and OPSYNVI® for the treatment of PAH, the latter indicated for chronic PAH, and XARELTO® to treat stroke and pulmonary embolism.
Financing details of J&J’s manufacturing facility
The J&J biologics facility will be partially supported by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by North Carolina’s Economic Investment Committee. The grant will be awarded to J&J’s subsidiary Janssen Biotech.
The JDIG agreement permits the potential reimbursement of up to $13.66m to the company, distributed over a 12-year period.
In addition, a $1.5m performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund will be provided to the project. The One NC Fund provides financial support to local governments to encourage economic investment and stimulate job creation.
J&J’s biologics manufacturing site benefits
The biologics facility is expected to employ more than 500 specialist staff and contractors, including process technicians, laboratory analysts, engineers and microbiologists, upon commencing operations.
These roles could generate around $45m a year in regional payroll impact.
Furthermore, the project is anticipated to create more than 5,000 jobs in North Carolina during the construction phase. It is also estimated to generate approximately $3bn in economic activity across the state during the first ten years of operation.
J&J will also support education in the Wilson area and invest in developing the region’s workforce. The company intends to expand its longstanding partnership with the Smithsonian Science Education Center, working with Wilson County Schools to introduce further STEM initiatives into local classrooms.
Contractors
Trimat Materials is collaborating with Jacobs Engineering to provide on-site soils and concrete quality control testing, ensuring the structural integrity of the facility.
