Janssen Biotech, Johnson & Johnson, Announces Plans To Build New $2B Manufacturing Facility In Wilson NC

Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson plans a $2B investment at a plant in Wilson, about 50 miles east of Raleigh, the state announced Tuesday.

Janssen Biotech, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson would employ at least 420 people by 2031 with salaries averaging almost $109,000, according to the N.C. Commerce Department. The plant will also mean the retention of other employees around the state.

J&J is in line for about $30M in incentives from the state and another $54M from the city of Wilson and Wilson County, according to the N.C. Department of Commerce. Johnson & Johnson was also considering Frederick, Maryland, located about 50 miles west of Baltimore, for the plant.

Janssen focuses on six areas of medicine: cardiovascular, metabolism and retina, immunology, infectious diseases and vaccines, neuroscience, oncology and pulmonary hypertension.

Johnson and Johnson has an increasing presence in North Carolina. In November, Janssen Supply Group said it was partnering with Fujifilm for a large manufacturing suite at the Fujifilm Diosynth’s upcoming $2B Holly Springs plant, which is expected to start production next year. It continues a relationship between the J&J subsidiary and Japan-based Fujifilm.

Johnson & Johnson is among the largest U.S. companies with revenue of $86B in 2023 and about 132,000 global employees. Its market capitalization is nearly $390B. The state expects a 262% return on investment, meaning for ever $1 in incentives the state expects $3.62 in return.

Triangle Business Journal reported about the potential plant last week.

It continues a series of corporate expansions in Wilson. Last week, Berkshire, England-based Reckitt said it would invest about $146M and create 289 jobs to start producing the over-the-counter cold medicine Mucinex in Wilson. Other Reckitt brands include Airborne, Air Wick, Finish, Lysol and Clearsil.

State incentives totaling $6.2M, and local incentives from the city and county of Wilson, totaling $4.2M, were used to recruit Reckitt. The jobs will average $80,182. The current average wage in the county is about $52,600.

The investment in Wilson was originally reported as $1B, however the company upped its plans to $2B. State and local incentives are based on the $1B figure, according to the state.