Novartis Opens Radioligand Therapy Manufacturing Facility in Carlsbad, CA

Novartis, a global innovative medicines company, has opened a new 10,000-square-foot radioligand therapy (RLT) manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California, representing a key milestone in the company’s previously announced $23 billion investment in U.S. infrastructure over the next five years.

The opening of the Carlsbad manufacturing facility allows Novartis to seamlessly meet future demand for RLT, adding additional capacity and improving the company’s supply chain capabilities. The Carlsbad facility has been filed with the FDA as an additional U.S. point of supply, and commercial manufacturing may begin once approval is granted.

RLTs are a form of precision medicine that combines a tumor-targeting molecule (ligand) with a therapeutic radioisotope, enabling the delivery of radiation to the tumor with the goal of limiting damage to the surrounding cells. Because each RLT dose is custom-made and time-sensitive, with a radioactive half-life measured in hours, proximity to treatment centers and transit hubs helps ensure patients receive their treatment when and where they need it.

“At Novartis, we tackle the toughest challenges in medicine by doing what’s never been done before for patients,” said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis. “Radioligand therapy is a breakthrough we’ve unlocked at scale, made possible by reimagining how innovation reaches patients. As the global leader in RLT for more than seven years, we’ve advanced this technology with a deep belief in its power to transform cancer care. The opening of our Carlsbad facility underscores our strong commitment to the U.S. and dedication to bringing this pioneering treatment to patients across the country.”

Novartis is the only pharmaceutical company with a dedicated commercial RLT portfolio, and the Carlsbad facility is its third US RLT manufacturing site, reinforcing its global leadership in radioligand therapies with expertise in development, production, and delivery to patients worldwide. The Carlsbad facility is purpose-built to manufacture the company’s FDA-approved RLTs with capacity for future expansion.