Novartis has begun construction on a new radioligand therapy (RLT) manufacturing facility in Denton, Texas, as part of the company’s expanding multibillion-dollar investment in U.S. manufacturing and research infrastructure.
The new 46,000-square-foot facility will become Novartis’ first manufacturing site in Texas and its fifth RLT production location in the United States. The project is part of the company’s previously announced $23 billion investment plan aimed at strengthening domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing and improving supply chain resilience.
The Denton site is expected to become operational in 2028 and will support the production of advanced cancer treatments that use targeted radiation to attack tumors. Novartis said the facility will create new jobs in bioengineering, advanced manufacturing, quality assurance and operations, contributing to economic growth across North Texas.
Vas Narasimhan said expanding manufacturing capacity is critical as radioligand therapies become increasingly important in oncology treatment.
“Radioligand therapy is transforming how we treat cancer, and expanded manufacturing is essential to delivering these therapies at scale,” Narasimhan said. “Breaking ground in Denton further strengthens our U.S. supply chain and helps ensure patients can receive these highly personalized treatments when and where they need them.”
Radioligand therapy is an emerging form of precision cancer treatment that combines radioactive isotopes with targeting molecules designed to bind to cancer cells. Once attached, the therapy delivers radiation directly to tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue. Novartis has become one of the leading companies in the field and currently operates one of the largest global RLT manufacturing networks.
Because each radioligand therapy dose is custom-produced and time-sensitive, manufacturing reliability and geographic proximity to treatment centers are essential. Novartis said its current network enables more than 99% of doses to be delivered on the planned treatment day.
The Denton facility expands Novartis’ coast-to-coast RLT network, which already includes sites in New Jersey, Indiana and California, along with a new facility under development in Florida.
Several government and community leaders attended the groundbreaking ceremony, including U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler, Swiss Ambassador Ralf Heckner, Texas State Senator Brent Hagenbuch, Texas State Representative Andy Hopper and Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth.
Hagenbuch said Novartis’ decision to establish operations in Denton highlights the city’s skilled workforce and growing economic importance within Texas.
The Texas expansion follows several recent Novartis manufacturing and research announcements across the United States, including new facilities in North Carolina, California and Florida. The company said these investments are intended to ensure that key medicines for U.S. patients are manufactured domestically.
Novartis is currently developing one of the industry’s largest radioligand therapy pipelines, with ongoing clinical programs targeting prostate, breast, colon, lung, pancreatic and brain cancers, among others.