Expansion further establishes KC region as global leader in animal health
DE SOTO, Kan. – May 8, 2025 – Merck Animal Health, a leading biopharmaceutical company, today announced plans to invest $895 million in the expansion of its biologics facility in De Soto, Kansas.
One of the most significant economic development projects in Kansas history and the largest to date for Merck Animal Health, the 200,000-square-foot expansion includes an $860 million investment in the site’s existing manufacturing facility and a $35 million investment in its research and development laboratories.
The project reinforces the Kansas City region’s position as the center of the global animal health industry, building on its long-standing network strength and strategic advantages in innovation.
“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,” said Richard DeLuca, president of Merck Animal Health. “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.”
Site preparation and facility design will begin immediately, with 2,500 construction jobs expected to support site development. The expansion will create more than 200 new full-time roles when manufacturing operations begin in 2030.
“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,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “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.”
The new manufacturing facility will expand filling and freeze dryer capacity for large-molecule vaccines and biologic products for Merck Animal Health. As a designated Center of Excellence, it will play a key role in Merck Animal Health’s global manufacturing network while building on its decades-long legacy in the region.
“Merck has been a valued part of the De Soto community for over 20 years, and this $895 million expansion is a remarkable vote of confidence in our city’s future. We’re proud that Merck has chosen to grow right here at home — bringing 200 new jobs to our community and further strengthening a facility that has already played such an important role in our local economy,” said De Soto Mayor Rick Walker. “This is a true success story: we’ve not only retained a major employer, but we’ve helped create the conditions for their continued growth. It’s exactly the kind of outcome we work toward—keeping and expanding the businesses that make De Soto a great place to live, work and raise a family.”
Merck’s De Soto campus is strategically located within the KC Animal Health Corridor — the world’s largest concentration of animal health companies, home to more than 300 businesses representing 56% of global animal health, diagnostics and pet food sales.
“This announcement reaffirms what we’ve long known — the Animal Health Corridor is where global leaders come to grow,” said Kimberly Young, president of the KC Animal Health Corridor. “Merck Animal Health’s expansion in De Soto is more than a vote of confidence — it’s a signal to the world that this region is built for ambitious, industry-defining work.”
The project includes a major expansion of Merck’s research and development laboratories, further strengthening the company’s global leadership in parasiticide and therapeutics development, and deepening its roots in the De Soto community.
“Merck has been not only a great corporate citizen, but an integral economic engine in De Soto for the past 25 years. We are so pleased Merck has chosen to reinvest in our community and are committed to doing so well into the future,” said Tim Holverson, president of the De Soto Kansas Chamber of Commerce & EDC. “De Soto has shown they can deliver the workforce talent and values the economic partnership that has made this a true economic development success story.”
Media assets including photos, video and additional details are available in the Merck Animal Health media library.
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About Merck Animal Health
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than a century, we’ve been at the forefront of research, bringing forward medicines, vaccines and innovative health solutions for the world’s most challenging diseases. Merck Animal Health, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, is the global animal health business of Merck. Through its commitment to The Science of Healthier Animals®, Merck Animal Health offers veterinarians, farmers, producers, pet owners and governments one of the widest ranges of veterinary pharmaceuticals, vaccines and health management solutions and services as well as an extensive suite of connected technology that includes identification, traceability and monitoring products. Merck Animal Health is dedicated to preserving and improving the health, well-being and performance of animals and the people who care for them. It invests extensively in dynamic and comprehensive R&D resources and a modern, global supply chain. Merck Animal Health is present in more than 50 countries, while its products are available in some 150 markets. For more information, visit www.merck-animal-health.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
About the KC Animal Health Corridor
Representing more than half of the global animal health industry's sales, and home to over 300 animal health companies, the KC Animal Health Corridor is the largest concentration of its kind worldwide. Anchored by Manhattan, Kansas, and Columbia, Missouri, the Corridor serves as a thriving hub for innovation and collaboration. | kcanimalhealth.com
About the Kansas City Area Development Council (KCADC)
Serving the 18-county, two-state Kansas City area, the Kansas City Area Development Council is an economic development nonprofit that promotes the region’s business and lifestyle assets to companies and talent around the world. Working closely with its two states, and 50-plus county and community partners, the region has attracted more than 64,000 new jobs over its 45-year history. KCADC also leads the efforts behind the KC Animal Health Corridor, KC SmartPort, TeamKC, KC Heartland and KC Global Design. | thinkKC.com