The pharmaceutical company Novartis is planning to build a new production center in North Carolina. The aim of the project is to centralize and scale up the manufacture of all of the company's key medicines within the US. This is part of a comprehensive $23 billion infrastructure investment that Novartis plans to make in US production over the next five years.

Two new Novartis sites and additional capacity for existing facilities

Two new production sites are planned: Facilities for the manufacture of biologics and sterile packaging are to be built in Durham. In Morrisville, a facility for solid dosage forms such as tablets and capsules, including packaging, is planned. In addition, the existing plant in Durham will be expanded to include additional capacity for sterile filling.

Production hub for key Novartis therapeutic areas

Novartis intends to create an integrated production hub by leveraging the proximity of the new and existing plants. This hub will bundle all steps from drug substance manufacturing to final packaging, enabling efficiency gains. The hub will manufacture drugs in the therapeutic areas of oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases.

Technological diversity at US sites

In addition to traditional pharmaceutical products, advanced therapies such as cell and gene therapies, radioligand therapies, and xRNA-based drugs will also be produced in the US. The production site for xRNA is yet to be announced. Novartis already operates facilities in New Jersey, Indiana, California, Florida, and Texas, among other locations.

Novartis creates jobs and economic momentum for the region

By the end of 2030, the new site in North Carolina is expected to create around 700 direct and more than 3,000 indirect jobs. The production campus will cover more than 700,000 square meters and will go into operation between 2027 and 2028. Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan explains: “This announcement is a commitment to American innovation and to the patients we serve. By building a full, end-to-end manufacturing presence in North Carolina for our broader portfolio, we are expanding our capacity to deliver medical breakthroughs, securing a more resilient US supply chain, and investing in the local communities that make our mission possible.” 

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein also welcomed Novartis' decision: “North Carolina continues to lead in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing, and Novartis’ expansion in the Triangle reflects our state’s talent and innovative spirit. This investment will strengthen our state’s economy and ensure life-saving medicines continue to be made right in North Carolina.”