- New state-of-the-art research and development (R&D) facility at Ludwigshafen to expand discovery and development of new medicines across core therapeutic areas
- Investment reinforces the importance of the Rhineland-Palatinate site within AbbVie’s global network
- Construction of the new R&D building expected to complete in 2027
LUDWIGSHAFEN, Germany – AbbVie breaks ground on a new central research building, “LUnA” (LUdwighafens neue Arbeitswelt) and is investing approximately €150 million in its second largest R&D location worldwide. A state-of-the-art research and laboratory building is being built on the main campus and will be home to more than 300 researchers and scientists. The facility will be built with modern and sustainable infrastructure features, creating flexible working conditions that enable greater scientific exchange between different areas of research and implement automation and digital research capabilities.
With this investment, AbbVie reinforces that the Rhineland-Palatinate site, with its more than 2,000 employees, will continue to be a critical component of AbbVie’s global network. All employees make a significant contribution to successfully advancing AbbVie’s pipeline with the goal of developing new therapies for serious diseases across oncology, neuroscience and immunology that can potentially improve the lives of millions of patients.
“For AbbVie Germany, the new construction of our ‘LUnA’ research building is much more than a €150 million investment in cutting-edge infrastructure. It is a promise for the future of AbbVie science and innovation. We are creating attractive working conditions for our top scientists and attracting new talent so that we can conduct cutting-edge research at our site in the long term,” explains Martin Gastens, vice president, biologics drug product development and managing director R&D, AbbVie Germany.
“The German state of Rhineland-Palatinate is on track to become one of the leading hubs for biotechnology and life sciences. We support research, promote its translation, and continue expanding the footprint. As the Government of the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate, we are proud of this additional investment made by AbbVie, and the trust which yet another large pharmaceutical company has placed in our state. We are working tirelessly on creating the best possible framework conditions for business and research and are collaborating closely in a network with all those involved through the biotechnology advisory board and the biotechnology academy. We are actively encouraging companies to put down roots and to invest in our Federal State, and once again I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to AbbVie for the excellent collaboration, the sharing of experiences and the great investment,” said Rhineland Palatinate’s Minister President Malu Dreyer.
Gastens adds, “We are very pleased that the Federal Government has taken action with the pharmaceutical strategy and has begun to make Germany a pharmaceutical location fit for the future. After all, the political framework is critical for future investment decisions.”
“Our Ludwigshafen site serves as a center of excellence for both research and development and pharmaceutical manufacturing and will play a critical role in AbbVie’s future growth,” said Azita Saleki-Gerhardt, Ph.D., executive vice president, chief operations officer. “This new expansion represents the proud continuation of our decades-long partnership with Germany – where we have invested approximately €250 million euros since 2020.”
“LUnA will offer our researchers in Ludwigshafen the most modern working conditions and, thanks to its structure, will further strengthen scientific exchange between different areas of research,” explains Tom Hudson, MD, senior vice president, global research, chief scientific officer, AbbVie. “I am particularly looking forward to seeing how we will further develop the future of laboratory automation and digital research in Ludwigshafen in our pursuit of discovering and developing breakthrough medicines for patients.”
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including Rhineland Palatinate Minister President Malu Dreyer; Mario Brandenburg, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Education and Research in Germany; Jutta Steinruck, Lord Mayor of the City of Ludwigshafen, as well as global AbbVie representatives. The research building is expected to be completed in 2027.
