(The Center Square) – AbbVie Inc., enticed in part by a $50.8 million incentive package, has chosen North Carolina for construction of a $1.4 billion 185-acre pharmaceutical manufacturing campus.
In Durham near the Research Triangle Park, the North Chicago-headquartered company said it will hire 734 for the campus and provide more than 2,000 construction jobs getting there. The move is part of a $100 billion American research and development commitment in the next 10 years.
Construction is expected later this year with completion in 2028. The plant will produce immunology, neuroscience and oncology medicines.
Earlier in the day, a state board, the Economic Investment Committee within the Commerce Department, approved a grant of up to $19.3 million over 12 years if the company meets its promised jobs and investment targets. There’s a $6.4 million rural infrastructure contribution from the Industrial Development Fund – Utility Account because Durham County is Tier 3.
Another $3.3 million is in a commitment to training future workers through the North Carolina Community College System and the Commerce Department’s Workforce Solutions Division. AbbVie has the potential for $24.8 million in property tax reimbursement and grants from the city and county.
AbbVie, by revenue and market impact for 2024 and 2025, is considered top five in its industry behind only Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, Roche and Merck & Co. Eli Lilly, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Sanofi and Novo Nordisk round out the top 10. Only Sanofi and AstraZeneca do not have facilities operating or planned in the state.
The company, traded on the New York Stock Exchange, employs about 29,000 worldwide. AbbVie in 2025 had record revenue of $61.2 billion, an 8.6% increase, and net income of $4.23 billion. Stock climbed nearly 29%, a figure higher than the S&P 500’s 16% gain.
Commerce Department figures indicate average salary of $118,041 compared to the Durham County average of $102,817.
Economists question the effectiveness of financial incentives to businesses to expand or come to a new state. Context is encouraged when wages are introduced because a few corporate leaders at a site can skew the average higher while the median wage would not have the same ratio.
Durham beat out Chicago to land the plant, state leaders said.
“AbbVie’s investment in North Carolina represents a significant milestone for our company as our largest capital investment to date and an important expansion of our manufacturing footprint into a new region of the United States,” Robert Michael, the company’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement. “By establishing this campus, we are strengthening our ability to support future medical breakthroughs while also creating new jobs and a long-term partnership with Durham and the state of North Carolina.”
North Carolina has been attracting and recruiting a growing number of companies in the life sciences field such as pharmaceutical manufacturers.
About 10% of the projects the state competes for are in the life sciences field, according to Chris Chung, CEO of the public-private Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. He appeared for the Joint Legislative Economic and Global Engagement Oversight Committee on Monday.
AbbVie Inc.’s choice of North Carolina bolsters the state’s position as a major contender for the largest projects, Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said in a statement.
“This decision further cements North Carolina’s position at the forefront of the global life sciences industry,” Lilley said. “As our pharmaceutical sector grows, we remain fully committed to cultivating the highly skilled workforce, infrastructure, and ecosystem needed to deliver lifesaving medicines to patients around the world for companies like AbbVie.”
The jobs at the plant will include engineers, lab technicians, manufacturing operators, and scientists, the state said.
“We welcome this investment and new jobs to Durham County,” state Sen. Natalie Murdock, D-Durham, said in a statement. “A $1 billion investment underscores the strength of our universities and community college systems and pioneering research engines that make this region an attractive place to innovate, scale, and lead in a rapidly demanding industry.”
