BRUSSELS, Belgium and ATLANTA, Georgia, Aug. 31, 2026
UCB has reached an agreement with the U.S. government aimed at supporting patient access to medicines, strengthening domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, and expanding investment in research and development. The global biopharmaceutical company said the agreement will enable continued investment in medicines for people living with severe neurological and immunological diseases, while supporting a more sustainable U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain. UCB said the agreement reflects its long-term commitment to patients, scientific innovation, research, manufacturing infrastructure, and highly skilled employment in the United States.
UCB Commits to Medicine Access and Pricing
Under the agreement, UCB will adopt a more balanced pricing approach for future medicine launches across developed nations and participate in the U.S. government’s GENERОUS program. The company will also continue investing in onshore manufacturing to supply patients with medicines produced in the United States. UCB said these commitments are intended to support access to important medicines while allowing the company to maintain investment in innovation and future therapies. The specific financial and commercial terms of the agreement remain confidential. The agreement also provides UCB with greater clarity regarding pharmaceutical tariffs and pricing requirements. According to the company, UCB will not be subject to Section 232 pharmaceutical tariffs on its current products or future pricing mandates as a result of the agreement. The development comes as pharmaceutical companies face increasing attention around medicine affordability, domestic manufacturing capacity, supply-chain resilience, and access to essential treatments in the United States.
U.S. Manufacturing Investment to Expand
A major component of UCB’s U.S. strategy is its ongoing expansion of biopharmaceutical manufacturing infrastructure. Earlier in 2026, the company committed to expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint through a new biologics manufacturing facility in Georgia, described by UCB as the largest manufacturing investment in its history. The facility is expected to generate approximately $5 billion in U.S. economic impact and create more than 330 permanent, highly skilled jobs. The Georgia investment is designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing and supply-chain resilience for recently approved and future pipeline medicines, particularly products addressing immunological and rare diseases. UCB’s broader U.S. presence includes its headquarters and offices across multiple states, with nearly 2,000 U.S. employees involved in research, development, and commercial operations. The company said its U.S. workforce has increased by more than 70% since 2017, while more than one-quarter of its U.S. employees are dedicated to research and development.
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Keppra Donation Supports Essential Medicine Supply
Separately, UCB announced plans to donate Keppra (levetiracetam) active pharmaceutical ingredient and tablets to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response’s National Stockpile. The medicine is recognized by the FDA as an Essential Medicine. UCB said the donation is intended to strengthen the resilience of the U.S. essential-medicines supply chain, support national preparedness, and help safeguard access to the treatment when needed. The agreement represents a broader commitment by UCB to combine medicine access, pharmaceutical innovation, domestic manufacturing, and supply-chain preparedness. The company said its strategy will continue to focus on developing and delivering innovative medicines for patients with severe diseases while increasing its contribution to the U.S. research and manufacturing ecosystem. UCB generated €7.7 billion in revenue in 2025 and operates in approximately 40 countries with more than 9,000 employees worldwide.
Source: UCB press relese
