Abbott has officially opened its new state-of-the-art biologics manufacturing facility in PR to support the long-term supply Humira and other future biologics. The facility, Abbott Biotechnology Limited (ABL), received FDA approval in February to commercially produce Humira for the U.S. market. This new plant has significantly more production capacity than Abbott’s Bioresearch Center (ABC) in Worcester, MA, where the drug was previously manufactured.

“This new facility is a key milestone for Abbott as we move to focus our resources and future growth on biologic and potent-drug manufacturing,” said Lawrence Kraus, vice president of manufacturing, global pharmaceutical operations, Abbott. “The advanced, high-quality infrastructure of ABL can meet the exceptionally challenging and stringent processes of biologic manufacturing. With this state-of-the-art facility, we can supply HUMIRA to the growing number of patients who have come to rely on this breakthrough product.”

The new plant cost Abbott approximately $450 million and is the company’s largest capital investment to date. In addition to producing Humira, the 330,000-sq.-ft. facility is designed for large-scale production of future products in Abbott’s pipeline that will require advanced manufacturing technologies.