Merck (MRK) division Merck Animal Health and Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced the $895M expansion of Merck Animal Health’s manufacturing facility in De Soto, Kansas. The $895M capital expansion will be constructed on an existing Merck-owned property that is the site of its biologics facility in De Soto, Kansas. It includes an $860M investment in the site’s existing manufacturing facility and a further $35M investment in its research and development laboratories. The 200,000-square-foot manufacturing facility project will expand filling and freeze dryer capacity for large molecule vaccines and biologic products for Merck Animal Health. Site preparation and facility design will start immediately, creating 2,500 construction jobs. Commercial manufacturing is expected to begin in 2030, creating more than 200 full-time roles. Merck Animal Health is partnering with the state of Kansas on expansion of the existing manufacturing facility.