Novartis to build radioligand therapy site in Texas to expand US manufacturing

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Novartis NOVN.S said on Wednesday it intends to build a radioligand therapy manufacturing site in Texas, expanding its U.S. footprint with what will be its first such facility in the state and fifth nationwide.

The investment is part of the Swiss drugmaker's previously announced plan to spend $23 billion to build and expand facilities in the U.S., as global drugmakers rush to shore up their domestic manufacturing capacity and inventory in response to the Trump administration's hefty tariffs on pharmaceutical imports into the country.

"The addition of our fifth RLT manufacturing site in the U.S. strengthens our ability to meet growing demand, building the capabilities needed to deliver these next-generation treatments with the speed and precision they require," Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan said.

Radioligand therapy is a targeted cancer treatment that delivers radiation directly to tumor cells. Novartis already markets radioligand drugs Pluvicto for prostate cancer and Lutathera for rare gastrointestinal tumors.

The construction of the 46,000-square-foot site at Denton, Texas will begin this year, and it is likely to become fully operational in 2028, the company said. The site is expected to create jobs in bioengineering, advanced manufacturing, quality and operations, it said.

The Texas plant will add to Novartis' existing network of RLT sites that spans New Jersey, Indiana and California, along with a recently announced facility in Florida.