North Chicago-based AbbVie investing $380 million on new pharmaceutical plants

Global drugmaker AbbVie will invest $380 million to build two new manufacturing facilities at its North Chicago campus, the company said on Monday.

The plants will make active pharmaceutical ingredients for AbbVie’s obesity and neuroscience medications. They will create at least 300 full-time jobs, including roles for engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators and lab technicians.

Construction will start this spring, with the facilities opening in 2029.

“This milestone demonstrates further progress against AbbVie’s $100 billion commitment to U.S. research and development, and capital investments over the next decade,” AbbVie CEO Robert Michael said in a news release.

The news comes after AbbVie broke ground in September on another $195 million manufacturing facility in North Chicago, where it’s headquartered. It will create about 50 full-time jobs when it opens in 2027. The plant will manufacture neuroscience, immunology and oncology products.

“AbbVie’s significant investment fortifies Illinois’ position as a global biomanufacturing leader while creating hundreds of new jobs,” Gov. JB Pritzker said in a Monday news release.

In January, AbbVie announced a voluntary agreement with President Donald Trump’s administration to invest $100 billion in U.S.-based research and development and capital investments, including manufacturing sites, over the next decade, according to a news release.

AbbVie will also offer its medicines through TrumpRx, the government website launched this month.

The drugmaker’s agreement includes the Trump administration giving AbbVie exemption from tariffs and future price mandates, according to a news release.

Through Illinois’ Economic Growth Plan, Pritzker has underscored expanding life sciences and advanced manufacturing to strengthen the state’s economy. Other key growth industries in the plan include agriculture, ag tech and food processing; clean energy production and manufacturing; quantum, AI and microelectronics; and transportation, distribution and logistics.

“With our world-class workforce, modern infrastructure, strategic location and cutting-edge research ecosystem, this expansion underscores why Illinois is the best place to grow and innovate,” Pritzker said of AbbVie’s latest investment.

“Together, we’re advancing pharmaceutical manufacturing and R&D and building a stronger economic future for communities across Illinois,” Pritzker said.

For the two new facilities, AbbVie will get a tax credit worth an estimated $25 million over 15 years through the state’s Economic Development for a Growing Economy agreement, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity said.

AbbVie has more than 56,000 employees in 70 countries, according to its website. It employs 28,000 in the U.S., with more than 11,500 in Illinois.