Novartis has officially started construction of a new radioligand therapy (RLT) manufacturing facility in Denton, Texas, further advancing its large-scale investment in United States research and pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities. The new development forms part of the company’s previously announced US$23 billion commitment aimed at strengthening domestic production and innovation infrastructure across the country.
The 46,000-square-foot Denton facility will become Novartis’ first manufacturing site in Texas and its fifth radioligand therapy production center in the United States. The company expects the site to begin operations in 2028 and support the growing demand for advanced cancer therapies across the southern region of the country.
Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan said radioligand therapy is reshaping cancer treatment by delivering highly targeted radiation directly to cancer cells. He noted that expanding manufacturing capacity is essential to ensuring patients receive these specialised treatments efficiently and without delays. According to the company, the new facility will strengthen its US supply network while improving access to personalised cancer therapies.
The Denton plant is expected to generate new employment opportunities in bioengineering, manufacturing operations, quality assurance, and technical services, contributing to economic growth across North Texas. Government officials and community leaders joined Novartis executives during the groundbreaking ceremony, including US Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Jeffrey Kessler, Swiss Ambassador to the US Ralf Heckner, Texas State Senator Brent Hagenbuch, Texas State Representative Andy Hopper, and Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth.
Senator Brent Hagenbuch welcomed the investment, stating that Denton’s skilled workforce, expanding economy, and strategic location make it an ideal destination for advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing. The Texas site will strengthen Novartis’ coast-to-coast radioligand therapy manufacturing network, which already includes facilities in New Jersey, Indiana, California, and a newly planned location in Florida. The company said its integrated manufacturing and supply chain operations currently enable more than 99 percent of radioligand therapy doses to be delivered on the intended treatment date.
Radioligand therapies require customised production and precise coordination due to the time-sensitive nature of radioactive medicines. By expanding manufacturing closer to treatment centres, Novartis aims to improve delivery reliability and patient access. The Denton project represents one of several major investments announced by Novartis under its five-year US expansion strategy. Recent projects include a biomedical research center in San Diego, a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in North Carolina, and new radioligand therapy sites in Florida and California.
Novartis continues to expand its oncology research pipeline across multiple cancer types, including prostate, breast, lung, colon, pancreatic, and brain cancers. The company remains one of the global leaders in radioligand therapy development, supported by a growing international network of specialised manufacturing and supply chain operations.
