By: Claire Wilson. Last Updated: June 2024

AbbVie in Ireland

Image: AbbVie

In this article, you'll find...

Overview of AbbVie Worldwide

  • Revenue 2022: $58.1 billion
  • R&D Spend 2022: $6.5 billion
  • Global Number of Employees 2022: ~50,000

The American biopharmaceutical company, AbbVie, was formed in 2013 when Abbott Laboratories separated into two publicly traded companies.

The “new” Abbott Laboratories would specialise in diversified products (including medical devices, diagnostic equipment and nutrition products), while AbbVie would operate as a research-based pharmaceutical manufacturer that specialises in making small molecule drugs.

The company focuses on therapy areas such as immunology, oncology, neurological disorders and metabolic diseases. They are most well known for the rheumatoid arthritis treatment, Humira.

“We blend the stability, global scale, resources and commercial capabilities of a pharmaceutical company with the focus and culture of a biotech.”
- Abbvie

AbbVie went on to acquire the pharmaceutical company Allergan in 2020.

Today, the company estimates that 50 million people are treated using AbbVie products every year.

AbbVie in Ireland

AbbVie employs almost 2,600 people across eight sites in Ireland.

There are five manufacturing facilities across Cork, Dublin, Sligo and Mayo. There are also three offices in Dublin for the company’s Commercial, Supply Chain and Operations activities.

“We harness Irish expertise in complex chemical and biological research, testing discoveries through clinical trials as well as manufacturing many of our medicines and delivery devices here in Ireland.

In this way, Ireland contributes to every part of the medicine discovery process before our commercial team works to make these new treatments rapidly accessible to Irish patients.”
- abbvie.ie

In 2021, AbbVie won the “Biopharma Company of the Year” and the “Sustainability Initiative of the Year” awards at the Irish Pharma Industry Awards.

Most recently, in 2023, AbbVie was awarded a “Best Workplace Laureate” to mark 10 consecutive years ranking in the “Best Workplace” awards. This year they were ranked 25 in the Best Large Company category, and also recognised as a “Best Workplace for Women”.

Country HR Director, Gary O’Mahoney commented:

“I would like to thank colleagues across Ireland for their commitment to our company culture and ongoing dedication to patients around the world."

Overall rating by their employees 2023 (source):

Image of 3 gold stars

AbbVie in Cork

  • Employees in Cork: 150
  • Activities: Pharmaceutical, Bulk Tablet Finishing

AbbVie’s site in Carrigtwohill is a “bulk tablet” manufacturing facility for solid and capsule formulations. As well as large-scale commercial manufacturing, the site also produces smaller-scale products for clinical trials.

Check out the video below for a look inside AbbVie’s Cork manufacturing site…

In 2022, the company marked 20 years of the operations at the site. They also announced a €60million investment for expansion and introduction of new technologies that is expected to eventually deliver another 70 jobs. These jobs will include roles in sterile manufacturing, quality control and engineering. Manufacturing is expected to begin in 2025.

AbbVie in Dublin

  • Employees in Dublin: 400+
  • Activities: Pharmaceutical manufacturing & Office-based operations

AbbVie has several sites in Dublin - 1 pharmaceutical manufacturing site and 3 office sites.

The Clonshaugh manufacturing site has been operational since 1994, producing tablets and capsules. The medicines produced here are primarily treatments in the therapy areas of neuroscience and gastrointestinal (GI) conditions. 270 staff work in manufacturing and 60 more work in global function support at the site.

80 people are employed within the Citywest commercial offices across roles such as sales, marketing, supply and distribution.

The Earlsfort Terrace office has been home to the company’s international supply chain operations since 1996 (including customer service and commercial support).

In Santry, the office is the “international base for a range of manufacturing and engineering services and supports AbbVie plants all around the world”.

AbbVie in Mayo

  • Employees in Mayo: 1300
  • Activities: Pharma & Biopharma Manufacturing

AbbVie’s Westport manufacturing site was initially established in 1997. It is a centre of excellence for aseptic sterile manufacturing and employs almost 1400 people.

The company outlines activities within the campus as:

  • A pharmaceuticals facility
  • Two biologics plants (the second of which opened in 2020)
  • An ocular implant facility (manufacturing a range of eye care products)

This location was obtained during the acquisition of Allergan in 2020 and is the company’s only manufacturing site globally for Botox.

AbbVie in Sligo

  • Employees in Sligo: 400
  • Activities: Pharma & Medical Device Manufacturing

AbbVie have two plants in Sligo - Manorhamilton Road and Ballytivnan. Between them they employ more than 400 people.

Manorhamilton Road is a high containment facility for API and drug product manufacturing that’s been operational since 2002. The company recently invested €85 million to double the size of the plant and “support AbbVie’s new product introductions”.

The Ballytivnan facilities have been operational since 1974. The company describes the site here as “a global centre of excellence for design control and precision engineering in the production of drug delivery devices”. Most recently, AbbVie invested €113 million in sterile manufacturing capabilities with an oncology focus.

Check out the video below the hear from staff and see inside AbbVie Ballytivnan…

Connect with AbbVie

How to Get a Job With AbbVie in Ireland

First, be sure to follow AbbVie Careers on Facebook.

If you already have experience in the pharma or medical device manufacturing industries, you can head straight over to our dedicated pharma jobs board and see the current AbbVie vacancies in Ireland.

If you have some science, quality, or engineering qualifications/work experience, check out our specialist conversion courses that bridge the gap between your current knowledge and the technical information required to work in this highly regulated industry:

For all other backgrounds (including sales, retail, hospitality, etc), check out our Conversion Course into Pharmaceutical Manufacturing. This course helps you take the transferable skills acquired in any other industry and combines them with essential technical knowledge and job-hunting skills, to make you an ideal candidate for entry-level pharma manufacturing jobs. (Note: NO science or engineering knowledge or experience is needed!)

About the Author

Image with Claire Wilison from GetReskilled Team

Claire Wilson

Content Marketing and Career Coaching

Claire runs GetReskilled’s Advanced Career Coaching Programme – our specially devised job hunting course that helps our trainees take that final step into employment by leading them through the job hunting process. She is extremely enthusiastic about helping people reach their final goal of employment in their new career path.

Claire has a BSc (Hons) in Medical Biology from Edinburgh University and spent 7 years working in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.