AbbVie Expands U.S. Operations with $70M Investment in Massachusetts Facility

AbbVie, the global biopharmaceutical company, has initiated a significant expansion of its U.S. operations, starting with a $70 million investment in its Worcester, Massachusetts bioresearch center. This move is part of a broader $10 billion investment strategy aimed at bolstering the company's domestic presence through 2035.

Worcester Expansion Details

The expansion project in Worcester will enhance AbbVie's capabilities in both manufacturing and research and development for biologic medicines. The company plans to construct additional biologics manufacturing areas and a new three-story building housing a laboratory, warehouse, and office space. This development is expected to accelerate the transfer of certain oncology medication production from Europe to the United States.

Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, Ph.D., AbbVie's chief operations officer, emphasized the importance of this investment, stating, "This investment will further expand AbbVie's biologics manufacturing capacity and position [the AbbVie bioresearch center] to build upon its impressive track record of developing, manufacturing and launching next-generation complex biologic medicines that improve the lives of millions of patients worldwide."

Broader U.S. Investment Strategy

The Worcester project is just one component of AbbVie's extensive U.S. investment plan announced in April. Scott Reents, AbbVie's chief financial officer, previously revealed that the $10 billion investment would be used to construct four new production plants focused on active pharmaceutical ingredients, drug products, peptides, and devices.

In addition to the Worcester expansion, AbbVie has recently unveiled plans for a $195 million API facility in North Chicago, its home base. This new plant, which broke ground on October 1, 2025, will support the manufacturing of ingredients for current and next-generation therapies in neuroscience, immunology, and oncology.

Industry Context and Job Creation

AbbVie's investment comes at a time when many pharmaceutical companies are upgrading their domestic production presence, partly in response to potential pharmaceutical tariffs from the U.S. government. The expansion in Worcester is expected to create new jobs, adding to AbbVie's current U.S. workforce of about 28,000 employees, including more than 2,000 in Massachusetts alone.

This strategic move by AbbVie not only strengthens its U.S. manufacturing capabilities but also positions the company to meet growing demand for biologics and oncology treatments. As the pharmaceutical landscape continues to evolve, such investments in domestic research and production facilities may become increasingly crucial for companies looking to maintain a competitive edge in the global market.