The Daily Dig
AbbVie is putting $380 million into two new active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing facilities at its North Chicago, Illinois campus. The expansion will increase domestic production capacity for the company's neuroscience and obesity drug lines, with construction set to begin spring 2026 and both facilities targeting full operations by 2029.
The timing isn't coincidental. In October 2025, the U.S. government imposed a 100% tariff on branded pharmaceuticals, with an exemption carved out only for manufacturers that had already broken ground on a domestic production facility. AbbVie says the new buildings will incorporate advanced manufacturing technologies and AI to support medicines currently moving through its development pipeline.
Project Snapshot:
Company: AbbVie
Industry: Pharmaceutical manufacturing
Investment: $380 million
Project scope: Two API manufacturing facilities
Campus: North Chicago, Illinois
Construction start: Spring 2026
Operational target: 2029
Workforce impact: 300 new hires - engineers, scientists, manufacturing operators, lab technicians
Production focus: Neuroscience and obesity medicines
Technology integration: Advanced manufacturing technologies and AI
Related expansion: $195M prior API expansion at same campus (immunology, oncology, neuroscience)
Long-term commitment: $100B in U.S. based R&D and capital investment over 10 years
Existing U.S. footprint: 11 manufacturing sites
Additional plans: Active discussions with multiple U.S. states; further investments expected in 2026
TheJobWalk Thoughts
A spring 2026 groundbreaking means preconstruction, engineering, and procurement are already moving. API facilities aren't your standard tilt-wall build, these projects carry complex process systems, specialty equipment integration, strict containment and cleanliness requirements, and heavy coordination across mechanical, electrical, and controls trades. The firms that win this kind of work aren't showing up after the bid hits the street; they're already at the table during design development. AbbVie broke ground on a $195M API facility at this same campus just months ago, and with a $100B domestic R&D and capital commitment over the next decade, more projects are coming. Start building the relationship now or read about it later.
