Genentech Breaks Ground on $700M Biotech Facility in Holly Springs
Ceremony at CaMP Helix site attended by Mayor Sean Mayefskie, Gov. Josh Stein, Genentech CEO Ashley Magargee, Congresswoman Deborah Ross and many other dignitaries and officials.
Holly Springs, NC, Aug. 25, 2025 — Global biotechnology leader Genentech officially broke ground today on its first East Coast manufacturing facility in Holly Springs. The $700 million investment, located in CaMP Helix at 4001 Friendship Road (map), will bring hundreds of high-paying jobs, strengthen North Carolina’s life sciences cluster, and add billions to the state’s economy over the next decade.
Founded nearly 50 years ago and headquartered in South San Francisco, Genentech is a member of the Roche Group and has been at the forefront of developing medicines for life-threatening conditions. The Holly Springs facility will be a state-of-the-art, 700,000-square-foot operation designed to produce next-generation treatments for heart disease, kidney disease, and metabolic disorders such as obesity.
A Pivotal Moment for Holly Springs
At the morning groundbreaking ceremony, Mayor Sean Mayefskie welcomed Genentech as both a business partner and a community member.
“Genentech’s $700 million investment is a pivotal moment for Holly Springs, strengthening our role as a cornerstone of life sciences and fueling growth for our small businesses,” Mayefskie said. “Genentech choosing Holly Springs is a sign of confidence in the town’s future, our values, and what makes Holly Springs a great place to live, work, and play”.
North Carolina’s Biotech Cluster Expands
Governor Josh Stein highlighted the statewide impact. “This groundbreaking is a big deal. Genentech’s first East Coast facility creates thousands of jobs and reinforces North Carolina’s place as a national leader in life sciences and biomanufacturing,” Stein said.
The governor noted that biotechnology already supports more than 210,000 jobs statewide, generates over $12 billion in exports, and contributes nearly $3 billion annually to state and local revenues.
Delivering Life-Changing Medicines
For Genentech, today’s ceremony underscored its mission. “We’re excited to deliver the next generation of medicines from Holly Springs, treatments for heart and kidney disease, and metabolic disorders like obesity, while investing in American manufacturing,” said Ashley Magargee, CEO of Genentech.
Magargee emphasized that the project is part of Roche and Genentech’s broader $50 billion U.S. investment over the next five years.
Long-Term Vision and Local Benefits
Congresswoman Deborah Ross connected the investment to North Carolina’s decades-long focus on research and infrastructure. “Genentech’s choice of Holly Springs proves decades of investments in education, research, and infrastructure have paid off. This community has the talent, planning, and quality of life companies need,” Ross said.
She added that the $700 million project and nearly 2,000 jobs tied to it will “make a real difference in this community and beyond.”
Looking Ahead
With biotech giants such as Amgen, Fujifilm, and CSL Seqirus already operating nearby, Holly Springs continues to solidify its reputation as a hub for life sciences innovation. As the shovels turned, local and state leaders agreed that the groundbreaking marked not just a construction milestone but a long-term investment in people, science, and community.
“Welcome to the family,” Mayor Mayefskie told Genentech executives. “We look forward to seeing you become a fabric of Holly Springs”.