Abbott Opens New Biotech Plant in Puerto Rico

PharmaManufacturing.com
04/18/2007

On Apr. 13, Governor Aníbal Acevedo-Vilá of Puerto Rico announced the official opening of Abbott Biotechnology Limited, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Barceloneta, Puerto Rico. The new 330,000-square-foot plant will serve as the main production facility for Humira, Abbott’s pharmaceutical drug designed to treat rheumatoid arthritis, which saw 2006 sales exceeding $2 billion. The $450 million facility is Abbott’s single-largest capital investment project to date and is expected to employ 250 people in Puerto Rico.

Highlighting Puerto Rico’s emergence as “Bio Island,” Governor Acevedo-Vilá observed, “After 40 years as an established leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing, the inauguration of Abbott’s latest facility further demonstrates Puerto Rico’s role as a center for biotechnology.”

Abbott is currently one of the top five of the many health care companies in Puerto Rico, employing approximately 2,400 people and investing over $1 billion in Puerto Rico since beginning operations here in 1968. In addition to producing Humira, the new Barceloneta plant is designed to accommodate the large-scale production of future products, requiring advanced manufacturing technologies. “This level of investment further demonstrates Abbott’s confidence in the Commonwealth’s ability to support their expanding operations,” Acevedo-Vilá commented.

The Governor added, “The presence of Abbott and other global life sciences leaders shows Puerto Rico’s dedication to creating a climate that meets the needs of the biotechnology industry. The Island’s unique incentives and advantages, combined with its innovative and highly-skilled workforce, are generating tangible growth in manufacturing and research and development in Puerto Rico.”

With its Commonwealth status, Puerto Rico offers investors U.S. regulatory standards and protections while providing offshore tax benefits. In addition to the Abbott expansion, other recent investments by some of the world’s largest biotechnology corporations include more than $2 billion from Amgen, $800 million from Eli Lilly, $300 million from Merck and $200 million from Bristol Meyers Squibb.

“Puerto Rico is committed to the biotech industry and to supporting the innovative products they make to improve the quality of people’s lives around the world,” Acevedo-Vilá remarked. “We are excited about this expansion project and the opportunities it brings for Puerto Ricans to continue advancing in the life sciences industry.”

Governor Acevedo-Vilá has forged several partnerships between the public and private sectors to promote learning and investment in the life sciences sector. Recent infrastructure developments that support the biotechnology industry include the Puerto Rico Cancer Center, a joint partnership with the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; the Molecular Science Building at UPR, Mayagüez; and the development of the Knowledge Corridor, approximately 1,000 acres of land in San Juan dedicated to facilities for learning, research and technology.