Novartis has opened a new 10,000-square-foot manufacturing facility for radioligand therapy (RLT) in Carlsbad, California. The company says this is its third U.S. RLT manufacturing site and is part of a five-year plan to invest $23 billion in U.S. infrastructure. 

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Because each RLT dose is custom-made and very time-sensitive (radioactive material decays fast, the company explains), being closer to patients in the western U.S., Alaska, and Hawaii is crucial.

Novartis filed the Carlsbad facility with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an additional U.S. manufacturing point and says commercial production may begin once approval is granted.

“Radioligand therapy is a breakthrough we’ve unlocked at scale,” said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis. “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.” 

The company also announced that beyond Carlsbad, it plans two additional RLT manufacturing sites, one in Florida and one in Texas. It will also expand its existing sites in Durham (North Carolina), Indianapolis (Indiana) and Millburn (New Jersey), and create a second global R&D hub in San Diego, California. 

In April, the company announced plans to open a new research and development hub in San Diego as part of its bigger U.S. expansion.