A rendering of the front of the new Durham plant. [Image courtesy of AbbVie]
The 185-acre campus will integrate advanced manufacturing and laboratory technologies with AI to support the production of AbbVie’s immunology, neuroscience and oncology medicines. It marks the latest significant investment in pharmaceutical manufacturing after the company outlined plans to make an investment in its North Chicago API manufacturing efforts in August 2025. The company has since put millions into a Massachusetts facility as well, then bought a facility from West in Arizona. It announced another planned expansion in North Chicago earlier this year.
AbbVie says this outlay marks its first major investment in North Carolina. It selected Durham, near Research Triangle Park, due to the strength of the region’s local workforce and its ability to support future expansion. The company expects to begin construction this year, with eyes on completing the build by the end of 2028.
Over the next four years, the company plans to hire 734 people, including engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators and laboratory technicians. It also expects the project to create more than 2,000 local construction jobs.
The investment comes as part of AbbVie’s $100 billion commitment to U.S. R&D and capital investments, including manufacturing, over the next decade. Its first phase includes small volume parenteral (SVP) drug product manufacturing facilities, next-generation laboratories, a warehouse, administrative offices and employee wellness facilities.
“Our investment in North Carolina represents a significant milestone for AbbVie as our largest capital investment to date and an important expansion of our manufacturing footprint into a new region of the United States,” said Robert A. Michael, chair and CEO, AbbVie. “By establishing this campus, we are strengthening our ability to support future medical breakthroughs while also creating new jobs and a long-term partnership with Durham and the State of North Carolina.”
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