Abbott Moves Humira Manufacturing to Puerto Rico

Abbott Laboratories' new Barceloneta, Puerto Rico, manufacturing facility will be the primary production facility for the TNF inhibitor Humira, the firm announced.

The 330,000-square-foot facility, which took four years to build and validate, obtained FDA approval in February, Abbott said. The facility is also designed for large-scale production of other, future biologic products, the company said.

The previous Humira (adalimumab) manufacturing site in Worcester, Mass., will now be used for pilot manufacturing of biologics currently in development, although it will still be used to support Humira production.

European Medicines Agency approval of the Barceloneta site is expected within the next few months, Abbott said.

Humira, which is approved for rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and Crohn's disease in the U.S., is Abbott's best-selling prescription medication, with more than $2 billion in sales, the company said. The firm projects the product will reach $2.7 billion in sales in 2007.