Onshoring Drug Manufacturing Can Strengthen U.S. National Security

China has become a major force in global pharmaceutical development and manufacturing. Advancing on three fronts-generics, branded small molecule drugs and biotechnologies-the country is roaring ahead on new development and manufacturing at a pace few countries can match.

Pharmaceutical manufacturing has historically been viewed through a financial lens, with companies seeking ideal locations for production and supply. China's exponential growth is becoming a national security issue in the United States. However, companies with high onshoring capacity, such as Ritedose, might be key to providing a way to calm national security concerns.

Building American Capacity

A July 2026 report from the American Biosecurity Initiative makes the case that China's rapid growth in pharmaceutical development is becoming a national security concern, and demonstrated why the United States needs greater domestic pharmaceutical capacity.

China-backed companies are accelerating the pace of clinical trials, creating an increased demand in active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), which can potentially put the squeeze on API required by U.S.-based firms. About nine in 10 active ingredients used in American generic drugs originate overseas, and the burden of handling drug shortages by US hospital staff has doubled since 2019. All these events add up to China possibly overtaking the US as the largest drugmaker and developer of new therapies, which threatens American innovation and highlights the need for investments in US pharma infrastructure.

And, Ritedose has been making those critical investments.

Over the past few years, we have expanded our capacity to manufacture drugs, especially to treat respiratory and ophthalmic diseases. These expansions include a $17 million investment in expanding our cGMP laboratory to provide additional resources with our own testing services, and Ritedose Performance Park, a new 225,000-square-foot central distribution and logistics center that expands Ritedose's capabilities to handle well over two billion doses per year. These investments give pharmaceutical companies greater access to domestic manufacturing, testing and distribution capacity-and greater flexibility as demand changes throughout a product's lifecycle.

Our patient-first mentality and commitment to product quality and reliable supply helps companies answer the question of "should I manufacture here or overseas?" And, the answer is here. We do this with valuable partnerships, adding capacity to handle supply and demand changes and even support manufacturing needs for mid-stage clinical trials.

Why does manufacturing capacity matter?

Drug discovery means little without the right manufacturing capability. Concentration of manufacturing and discovery overseas has resulted in vulnerable supply chains-this was dramatically illustrated by the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Onshoring, instead, means ensuring sufficient domestic capacity to remain resilient.

At the same time, international partners are still valuable if managed strategically. For example, Ritedose works closely with the Stuttgart, Germany-based Syntegon. For more than 20 years, Ritedose has relied on Syntegon to deliver reliable, innovative solutions for its pharmaceutical products. Syntegon is a key partner in our use of Blow-Fill-Seal (BFS) technology, which maintains an aseptic process for making unit-dose drugs. Ritedose is the nation's largest CDMO using BFS processes. In 2025, we added a seventh Syntegon packaging line to our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that doubles the company's capacity. The packaging line will process between 160 million and 170 million vials annually. The line supports Ritedose's manufacturing efforts for Verona Pharma plc's Ohtuvayre®, a new novel product for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

America needs to build the capacity to turn its pharmaceutical innovation into reliable patient supply. That means investing in manufacturing capacity, quality, technology and resilient supply chains-and putting those capabilities to work.

At Ritedose, we embrace these advantages, including increased capacity, strict quality controls, reliable and redundant supply chain operations, new technologies like automated BFS, and key, curated partnerships with vendors, suppliers, and customers. It's time to boost development, manufacturing and distribution technology in the United States.

Our opportunity is here. Now.

American manufacturers can extend this country's pharmaceutical lead. The US has the innovation engine. We must ensure we have the manufacturing infrastructure to match it. A drug that doesn't (or can't) reach a patient isn't valuable, no matter how innovative it is. Strengthening domestic manufacturing can reduce supply chain vulnerabilities while supporting reliant patient access. That's where true national security lies, and Ritedose is leading by example. Contact us to find out how.

About The Ritedose Corporation

Ritedose is the largest sterile contract development manufacturing organization (CDMO) in the US specializing in sterile Blow Fill Seal (BFS) technology that ensures sterile, consistent, and safe unit dose delivery. The Company's process guides the development of molecules from clinical trials to commercialization of branded and generic inhalation and ophthalmic medications. With a focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Ritedose partners with leading pharmaceutical companies to deliver safe, effective, and reliable medications that improve patient outcomes. For more information about Ritedose and its services: visit Ritedose.com.