Merck Animal Health invests $895M to expand manufacturing facility in Kansas 

Merck Animal Health invests $895M to expand manufacturing facility in Kansas 

June 2, 2025
The facility will support large molecule vaccine production and create more than 200 new jobs. 

Merck Animal Health has announced plans to expand its manufacturing facility in De Soto, Kansas. The company, which develops and manufactures veterinary vaccines and pharmaceuticals, is investing $895 million into the project, creating more than 200 new jobs. 

The expansion includes a 200,000-square-foot facility that will enhance filling and freeze dryer capacity for large molecule vaccines and biologic products. The project will be a Center of Excellence for Merck Animal Health, supporting the company’s broader manufacturing network across the U.S. and internationally. Site preparation and facility design will begin immediately, with commercial manufacturing slated to start in 2030.  

What people are saying 

In a recent quote, Richard DeLuca, President, Merck Animal Health, said, “Our De Soto manufacturing facility is strategically located in the heart of the Animal Health Corridor. This region is renowned for its concentration of animal health companies, fostering an unparalleled ecosystem for innovation, collaboration and industry leadership. This investment in our site is designed to increase Merck Animal Health’s ability to meet the growing customer demand for its portfolio of animal biologics products and ensure the company remains at the forefront of innovation in the animal health sector. This initiative also reflects our dedication to advancing animal health and our on-going investment in the communities where we operate.” 

Laura Kelly, Governor, State of Kansas, added, “This extraordinary investment by Merck Animal Health underscores my administration’s commitment to securing a strong economic future for our state and ensuring prosperity for generations to come. Public-private partnerships that lead to major global projects, such as those with Merck, Fiserv and Panasonic – just to name a few recent successes – are occurring because people believe in Kansas. They believe in who we are, what we are doing, and the direction we have taken.” 

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Investing in American manufacturing in 2025 

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About the Author

Alexis Gajewski | Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski has over 15 years of experience in the maintenance, reliability, operations, and manufacturing space. She joined Plant Services in 2008 and works to bring readers the news, insight, and information they need to make the right decisions for their plants. Alexis also authors “The Lighter Side of Manufacturing,” a blog that highlights the fun and innovative advances in the industrial sector.