Biopharmaceutical company AbbVie has announced plans to invest $380 million in the construction of two new manufacturing facilities in North Chicago. This initiative aligns with the economic development strategies of both Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and former President Donald Trump. The new plants are expected to create approximately 300 jobs in various roles, including engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators, and lab technicians.
The facilities will be dedicated to producing active pharmaceutical ingredients for medications focused on neuroscience and obesity. Construction is set to commence in the spring of 2024, with full operations anticipated by 2029. This development comes in addition to a previously announced $195 million facility in North Chicago that AbbVie broke ground on in September 2023, which will also manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Economic Impact and Job Creation
All three projects are part of Illinois’ Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program. This program offers tax credits to companies that invest in job creation within the state. Governor Pritzker highlighted the significance of AbbVie’s investment, stating, “AbbVie’s significant investment fortifies Illinois’ position as a global biomanufacturing leader while creating hundreds of new jobs. Together, we’re advancing pharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D and building a stronger economic future for communities across Illinois.”
The expansion of AbbVie’s manufacturing capabilities also fulfills an agreement made with the Trump administration earlier this year. In January 2023, AbbVie committed to invest $100 billion in U.S. research and development over the next decade in exchange for exemptions from tariffs and price mandates for three years. This agreement includes a promise to offer “low prices” in Medicaid and to enhance direct-to-consumer sales through the online platform, TrumpRx.
Broader Manufacturing Strategy
AbbVie, headquartered in North Chicago, currently employs over 11,500 people in Illinois and around 29,000 nationwide. The company is renowned for its range of medications, including Humira, which treats conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease. Other notable products include Skyrizi for plaque psoriasis and Rinvoq for rheumatoid arthritis, in addition to the well-known cosmetic treatment, Botox.
In tandem with these developments, AbbVie is also expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint by acquiring a facility in Arizona and investing in its plant in Massachusetts. The company has indicated that it is in discussions with multiple states regarding further potential manufacturing investments.
As AbbVie moves forward with these initiatives, the impact on local economies and the biopharmaceutical landscape in the U.S. will be closely monitored by industry analysts and stakeholders.
