AbbVie has unveiled plans to invest $380 million to construct two new active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facilities at its North Chicago, Illinois campus, expanding its U.S. production footprint and advancing its long-term domestic investment strategy.
The new state-of-the-art facilities will incorporate advanced manufacturing technologies and artificial intelligence to support production of AbbVie’s next-generation medicines, particularly in neuroscience and obesity. Construction is slated to begin in spring 2026, with both facilities expected to become fully operational by 2029.
The project is expected to create 300 new jobs in North Chicago, including positions for engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators, and laboratory technicians. The expansion reinforces the company’s presence in Illinois and strengthens its operational capacity in the United States.
Robert A. Michael, chairman and chief executive officer of AbbVie, said the development marks further progress toward the company’s previously announced $100 billion commitment to U.S. research, development, and capital investments over the next decade. By enhancing its domestic manufacturing infrastructure, he noted, AbbVie aims to better support innovation and ensure reliable delivery of next-generation therapies to patients.
API manufacturing is a complex, multi-step chemical process responsible for producing the active components that give medicines their therapeutic effect. Strengthening this capability domestically allows companies to improve supply chain resilience, reduce reliance on overseas production, and potentially accelerate time to market for new treatments.
The newly announced investment builds on recent manufacturing initiatives. In September 2025, AbbVie broke ground on the first phase of a broader expansion plan with a new chemical synthesis facility designed to bring production of select neuroscience, immunology, and oncology APIs back to the United States from Europe and Asia. The additional North Chicago facilities represent the next stage in that strategy.
AbbVie maintains operations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, employing approximately 29,000 people across the country. More than 6,000 employees work at its U.S. manufacturing sites, and over 11,500 are based in Illinois, where the company is headquartered.
Beyond Illinois, AbbVie has also announced plans to acquire a device manufacturing facility in Arizona and to expand its operations in Massachusetts. The company said it is in active discussions with multiple U.S. states regarding further manufacturing investments and expects to announce additional projects in 2026.
The latest investment underscores AbbVie’s focus on expanding domestic production capacity while leveraging advanced technologies to support its evolving pipeline of innovative therapies.