AbbVie Selects Durham for New $1.4 Billion Manufacturing Campus

Durham, N.C. – Today, AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) announced a $1.4 billion investment to build a 185-acre pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in Durham, North Carolina. The state-of-the-art campus will support the production of AbbVie’s immunology, neuroscience and oncology medicines. Durham was selected based on the strength of its local workforce and its ability to support future expansion. Construction will begin this year, with completion expected by the end of 2028.
Over the next four years, AbbVie plans to hire 734 people, including engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators and laboratory technicians. The project will also support the local economy by generating more than 2,000 construction jobs during campus development.
The first phase of construction will include the building of small volume parenteral (SVP) drug product manufacturing facilities, next-generation laboratories, a warehouse, administrative offices and employee wellness facilities to support AbbVie’s growing pipeline. When completed, this campus will serve as AbbVie’s U.S. Center of Excellence for SVP manufacturing, delivering next-generation medicines to patients worldwide.
“Durham County is excited to welcome AbbVie and their transformative investment to our community,” said Dr. Mike Lee, Chair of the Durham Board of County Commissioners. “We are laser-focused on recruiting great paying jobs with meaningful career pathways for Durham residents. The quality of entry-level jobs included with this announcement provide genuine opportunities for economic mobility that we so greatly value. We are thrilled that AbbVie chose Durham County and look forward to this partnership.”
“This is a defining moment for the City of Durham. The largest private investment in the history of our city and a powerful signal that our city is competing—and winning—on a global stage,” said City of Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams. “With more than 700 new jobs and a strong commitment to our community, this project delivers both immediate impact and long-term opportunity. It reflects the strength of our economy, the talent of our workforce, and our commitment to building a future where growth is shared and inclusive. We are proud to welcome AbbVie to Durham and look forward to the lasting impact this investment will have on our residents for generations to come.”
"We are thrilled to welcome this significant investment, which serves as a powerful testament to Durham’s growing reputation as a premier global hub for innovation and talent,” said Geoff Durham, President and CEO of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. “Beyond the economic impact, this partnership highlights the company’s deep-rooted commitment to our community through sustainable growth and meaningful local engagement. Their decision to call Durham home reinforces our shared vision of a thriving, inclusive economy where corporate success and community prosperity go hand in hand.”
AbbVie is a Fortune-100 Company headquartered in North Chicago, Illinois. Its mission is to discover and deliver innovative medicines and solutions that solve serious health issues today and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. With a presence in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, AbbVie employs approximately 29,000 people in the U.S.
AbbVie’s operation in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a State of North Carolina Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG), which was approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $8 billion. The Durham County Board of County Commissioners and Durham City Council are both scheduled to consider local awards to support the JDIG at upcoming meetings this Spring.
“Durham’s talented workforce and culture of collaboration landed this project,” said Matthew Filter, Economic Development Manager for Durham County. “The County, City, Chamber, and numerous other local partners worked hand-in-hand alongside our State and regional partners to deliver this incredible project. Durham has a great economic development team, and we’re excited to welcome AbbVie to Durham.”
Partnering with Durham County, the City of Durham, and the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce on this project are the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the North Carolina General Assembly, North Carolina Department of Commerce, North Carolina Department of Transportation, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, North Carolina Community College System, Durham Technical Community College, North Carolina Central University, Duke University, Duke Energy, and Enbridge Gas North Carolina.
For more information, please visit www.abbvie.com/manufacturing, or contact:
- Durham County Economic Development Manager Matthew Filter at mfilter@dconc.gov;
- City of Durham Office of Economic & Workforce Development Director Joshua Gunn at joshua.gunn@durhamnc.gov;
- Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Economic Development Matt Gladdek at mgladdek@durhamchamber.org; and/or
- AbbVie Director of Global Operations Communications John Torrisi at john.torrisi@abbvie.com.
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