AbbVie, the global biopharmaceutical company with a significant presence across six Irish locations, has opened a €23m European services hub in Clonshaugh, north Dublin. 

The state-of-the-art facility spans two sites within the IDA business park in Clonshaugh and serves as an international base for a range of supply chain, manufacturing and engineering services, supporting AbbVie’s global network. 

The creation of the new hub – which will support Irish manufacturing plants and company Operations in other European countries including Germany, Italy and the Netherlands – is the latest confirmation of Ireland’s strategic importance within AbbVie’s footprint.

The company’s manufacturing presence in Ireland dates back to 1974 and now includes significant operations at six separate Irish locations in Cork, Sligo, Mayo and Dublin. The expanded Clonshaugh site, which celebrates its 30th anniversary next year, now employs close to 400 people. 

AbbVie, which was formed in 2013 following a separation from Abbott, has consistently and significantly invested in Ireland over the course of the past decade. Activities have included the acquisition of Allergan and its significant Irish operations in 2020. Today’s official opening follows a €60m investment in Cork last year and brings total AbbVie investments in Ireland over the past 10 years to more than €430m.

Ireland's critical role

Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, AbbVie EVP chief operations officer, said: "Ireland plays a critical role in supporting AbbVie's international operations and I was delighted to join Minister Coveney, IDA leadership and AbbVie employees to officially open our redeveloped site in Clonshaugh.

"Today's grand opening represents one of AbbVie's many investments in its Ireland-based operations and a continuation of our longstanding partnership with the Irish government. Our new AbbVie North Dublin (AND) facility will be a key node in AbbVie's global operations network, serving as a European hub bringing together our Dublin-based supply chain, engineering, quality assurance and manufacturing teams for the first time.

"Built with our employees and the future in mind, AbbVie north Dublin features new, improved collaboration spaces and amenities designed to significantly elevate our employees' experiences and make this facility a great place to work for many years to come."

Enterprise minister Simon Coveney said: "It’s fantastic to be in North Dublin today to officially open this new facility for AbbVie. As a European hub, it serves as an enormous vote of confidence in the region – and the talent, skills, and experience Ireland has to offer.

"Manufacturing innovation and expertise is the foundation on which Ireland’s thriving health and life sciences sector is built on. That’s shown in the continued investment in manufacturing facilities across the sector. It’s also demonstrated by AbbVie’s ability to deliver international manufacturing services from north Dublin."

CEO of IDA Ireland Michael Lohan said: "The opening of this new European Services hub is a wonderful addition to the six locations across Ireland that AbbVie currently operate in. This is a continued endorsement in Ireland as a strategic location for biopharmaceutical investment and one we are very proud of.

Global hub for life sciences

"This new hub will place Ireland at the centre of the European supply chain. Since AbbVie arrived in Ireland in 1974, the country has continued to grow as a global hub for life sciences and be at the forefront of innovation. IDA is delighted to be a longstanding partner with AbbVie now and into the future."

AbbVie has been recognised as one of the Best Large Workplaces in Ireland for the past ten years and was also named one of the Best Workplaces for Women for the fifth year in a row. 

The company won the ‘Sustainable Business Team’ accolade at the recent 2023 Sustainable Business Awards and was also awarded the ‘Best Use of CSR’ title at the 2023 Life Science Industry Awards in recognition of its’ Week of Possibilities volunteering initiative.