Novartis has announced a sweeping expansion of its U.S. operations, unveiling plans to establish a new flagship manufacturing hub in North Carolina that will feature full end-to-end production capabilities. The move is part of the company’s $23 billion investment commitment to U.S. infrastructure over the next five years, aimed at ensuring that all key Novartis medicines for American patients are manufactured domestically and supplied at scale.
The expansion includes major new construction across the Research Triangle region. In Durham, Novartis will build two new facilities dedicated to biologics manufacturing and sterile packaging. An additional site in Morrisville will produce solid oral dosage forms, including tablets and capsules, along with packaging operations. The company will also expand its existing Durham facility to include sterile filling of biologics into syringes and vials. Together, these facilities will form a highly integrated manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting Novartis’ broad therapeutic portfolio.
Novartis emphasized that the plan positions the U.S. as the primary production base for its most advanced technologies. Cell and gene therapies will be manufactured in Morris Plains, New Jersey, and Durham, North Carolina; radioligand therapies will be produced across multiple sites in New Jersey, Indiana, and California, with two additional facilities underway in Florida and Texas. The company also revealed that a dedicated site for xRNA therapies is in development, with a location to be announced soon.
Currently, Novartis produces several gene therapies in Durham, and the expanded footprint will transform the region into a consolidated hub supporting oncology, immunology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic medicines. The close proximity of the facilities is expected to streamline operations, allowing teams to work sequentially—from active ingredient manufacturing to final packaging—increasing both efficiency and supply chain resilience.
CEO Vas Narasimhan said the investment reflects the company’s long-term commitment to U.S. innovation and patient access. “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 U.S. supply chain, and investing in the local communities that make our mission possible.”
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein welcomed the announcement, citing the state’s growing leadership in pharmaceutical manufacturing. “This investment will strengthen our state’s economy and ensure life-saving medicines continue to be made right in North Carolina,” he said.
Scheduled to open between 2027 and 2028, the new manufacturing hub will span more than 700,000 square feet across existing and newly constructed facilities. Novartis expects to create 700 direct jobs and more than 3,000 indirect supply-chain jobs by 2030. The project builds on the company’s long-standing presence in the region, supporting workforce development and solidifying North Carolina as a national center for advanced pharmaceutical production.