PIMA COUNTY, AZ (April 24, 2025) — Roche, a global leader in pharmaceuticals and diagnostics, has announced a landmark $50 billion investment over the next five years to expand its U.S.-based operations. This bold initiative reinforces Roche’s long-term commitment to the United States, where the company currently employs more than 25,000 people across 15 research and development (R&D) centers and 13 manufacturing facilities.
Arizona Expansion Highlights
As part of its nationwide $50 billion investment initiative, Roche plans to expand its pharmaceutical and diagnostics R&D operations in Arizona significantly. While specific project details have yet to be announced, the enhancements are expected to strengthen Roche’s research footprint in the state. Further updates are anticipated in the coming months.
Roche has steadily built momentum in Southern Arizona in recent years. In 2016, its subsidiary, Ventana Medical Systems, acquired 53.6 acres adjacent to its Oro Valley campus in Innovation Park for $18 million. Although initial expansion plans were submitted to the Town of Oro Valley, the project was later withdrawn, and the land remains undeveloped and offers room to grow.
In late 2022, Roche Tissue Diagnostics opened a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Marana, Arizona. The site is powered entirely by local renewable energy and supports instrument manufacturing, service operations, and labeling. Approximately 140 employees transitioned from the Oro Valley site, bringing the Marana facility's workforce to 180.
Building on this growth, Roche purchased the former Sanofi/Icagen pharmaceutical R&D facility at 2090 E. Innovation Park Drive in Oro Valley for $25 million in December 2023. The 112,500-square-foot facility, originally constructed in 2009, had been vacant since 2020. Roche is currently renovating the space to support the continued expansion of its pathology business.
The upgraded facility will house teams focused on high medical value solutions in personalized healthcare. While no immediate job growth has been announced, the expansion reflects Roche’s long-term commitment to innovation and sustainability in Southern Arizona.
With its existing Oro Valley headquarters and the Marana manufacturing site, this latest acquisition enhances Roche’s capacity to advance cancer diagnostics and personalized healthcare solutions across its Arizona operations.
Nationwide Expansion Overview
In addition to Arizona, Roche’s U.S. investment will fund the construction of several state-of-the-art facilities, including:
- A 900,000-square-foot manufacturing center dedicated to next-generation weight-loss therapies (location to be announced).
- A new gene therapy production facility in Pennsylvania.
- A manufacturing site for continuous glucose monitoring devices in Indiana.
- An AI-focused R&D hub in Massachusetts specializing in cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic research.
Roche will also expand its existing operations in Kentucky, Indiana, New Jersey, Oregon, and California, with significant enhancements planned for its facilities in Indiana, California, and Arizona.
Job Creation and Economic Impact
The expansive initiative is expected to generate over 12,000 new jobs nationwide, including approximately 6,500 construction-related positions and over 1,000 full-time roles at new and upgraded facilities. These developments reflect a growing industry trend to strengthen domestic manufacturing in light of potential new U.S. tariffs on imported pharmaceuticals.
A Commitment to U.S. Innovation and Leadership
“With this $50 billion investment, we are underscoring our long-standing commitment to research, development, and manufacturing in the U.S.,” said Thomas Schinecker, CEO of Roche in the company’s official press release. “We are expanding our capabilities to deliver more medicines and diagnostics to patients faster, while reinforcing the U.S. as a critical hub for innovation.”
Once all new and expanded manufacturing capacity comes online, Roche will export more medicines from the US than it imports. Today, its diagnostics division already has an export surplus from the US to other countries.
For communities like Tucson and the surrounding region, Roche’s continued investment marks a significant step forward in building a globally competitive bioscience economy. These expansions will create new opportunities in high-tech research, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing, solidifying Southern Arizona’s reputation as a growing life sciences leader.