NextFin news, On Monday, September 15, 2025, the value of U.S.-based pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities surged significantly, highlighted by the Cambrex factory located in the Research Triangle Park industrial complex in Durham, North Carolina. This increase is attributed to President Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs of up to 250% on imported pharmaceuticals within 18 months, aiming to encourage reshoring of drug production to the United States.
The Cambrex facility, specializing in active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production and drug storage, is currently on the market. Private equity firm Permira, which acquired Cambrex six years ago for $2.4 billion (approximately 3.3 trillion Korean won), has set a target enterprise value of $4 billion (approximately 5.5 trillion Korean won) for the sale, nearly doubling its original purchase price.
According to a global consulting firm EY analysis, even a 25% tariff on imported drugs could increase annual pharmaceutical costs in the U.S. by $51 billion (approximately 71 trillion Korean won) and raise consumer drug prices by up to 12.9%. This economic pressure is driving pharmaceutical companies to establish or expand local production facilities within the U.S.
American contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs) are at the forefront of this trend. For example, PCI Pharma Services’ enterprise value rose to $10 billion (13.9 trillion Korean won) following Bain Capital’s majority stake acquisition. The Trump administration’s tariff threats and reshoring policies have intensified investor interest in these firms.
South Korean biopharmaceutical company Celtrion is also pursuing acquisition of a U.S. drug production facility. Selected as the preferred bidder in July for a factory producing APIs, anticancer drugs, and autoimmune disease treatments, Celtrion plans to finalize the contract as early as next month. The company intends to use the facility as a U.S. production hub to mitigate tariff risks by locally handling API production, finished drug manufacturing, packaging, and logistics, marketing products as "Made in USA."
Major global pharmaceutical companies are expanding investments in U.S. manufacturing. AstraZeneca announced a $50 billion (69.7 trillion Korean won) investment in U.S. manufacturing and R&D infrastructure by 2030. Swiss giant Roche plans to invest $50 billion in U.S. manufacturing plants over the next five years. French drugmaker Sanofi sold its aseptic injectable drug factory in New Jersey to U.S. CDMO Thermo Fisher Scientific, which will continue producing Sanofi’s drugs at the facility, allowing Sanofi to maintain its U.S. production base without direct factory management.
The surge in pharmaceutical production investments has driven demand for biomanufacturing real estate in the U.S. JLL, a U.S. real estate management firm, reported an 185% increase in leasing demand for biomanufacturing spaces over the past six months, making U.S. drug production facilities highly sought-after assets in the real estate market.
However, critics warn that the increased costs associated with strengthening domestic production and supply chains may ultimately be passed on to patients and insurers, potentially driving up drug prices and increasing the financial burden on consumers.
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