Fujifilm and argenx Expand Partnership, Bringing Vyvgart Production to US Amid Industry Shifts

Fujifilm Biotechnologies and argenx have announced a significant expansion of their manufacturing partnership, signaling a major shift in pharmaceutical production strategies. This move comes as the industry grapples with potential sector-specific tariffs and an increasing focus on domestic manufacturing capabilities.

Vyvgart Production Expands to North Carolina

Fujifilm Biotechnologies will extend its manufacturing of argenx's autoimmune blockbuster Vyvgart beyond its current facility in Hillerød, Denmark, to include production at its large-scale complex in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The new US-based production is slated to begin in 2028, marking a significant milestone in the drug's manufacturing journey.

Argenx will be the first tenant in the Holly Springs facility's expansion phase, which is set to double the number of 20,000-liter mammalian cell culture bioreactors from 8 to 16. This expansion is part of Fujifilm's broader $3.2 billion investment in the Holly Springs campus, which began construction in 2021 and is expected to employ approximately 1,400 people by 2031.

Strategic Moves in Response to Market Dynamics

The collaboration between Fujifilm and argenx reflects a broader industry trend of pharmaceutical companies seeking to strengthen their US manufacturing presence. This strategic shift is partly in response to the potential threat of sector-specific tariffs on pharmaceutical imports under a possible second Trump administration.

Filip Borgions, Chief Technology Innovation Officer at argenx, emphasized the importance of this move, stating, "Our expanded partnership with Fujifilm Biotechnologies at its Holly Springs site adds to our existing U.S. manufacturing footprint and further strengthens our global supply chain."

Fujifilm's Holly Springs facility has already secured significant contracts with other major pharmaceutical players. Regeneron has committed to a $3 billion, 10-year arrangement, while Johnson & Johnson recently announced a $2 billion, 10-year deal with the CDMO giant.

Vyvgart's Growing Market Presence

Vyvgart, approved for generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) in 2021 and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) in 2024, has shown impressive sales growth. The drug generated $2.2 billion in revenue last year and has already reached $1.7 billion in sales in the first half of 2025.

Beyond its approved indications, Vyvgart is currently under investigation for other Immunoglobulin G (IgG) deficiency disorders, potentially expanding its market reach. This growth trajectory underscores the importance of securing robust and flexible manufacturing capabilities to meet increasing demand.

As the pharmaceutical landscape continues to evolve, partnerships like that between Fujifilm and argenx are likely to become increasingly common, reflecting a new era of strategic manufacturing decisions in the industry.