Wednesday AbbVie announced a $1.4 billion investment to build a state-of-the-art 185-acre pharmaceutical manufacturing campus in the Bull City. The facility will support the production of AbbVie's immunology, neuroscience and oncology medicines.
AbbVie plans to hire 734 people, including engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators and laboratory technicians, in the next four years. The project will bring more than 2,000 construction jobs during campus development.
Construction is expected to begin this year, with completion potentially by the end of 2028.
This is AbbVie's largest-ever capital investment in a single campus and Durham was selected based on the strength of its local workforce and its ability to support future expansion, city leaders say.
"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."
The first phase of construction will include the building of small volume parenteral 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.
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"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."
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