Novartis has broken ground on planned flagship manufacturing hub in North Carolina, marking a cornerstone in the Swiss pharmaceutical giant’s US$23 billion infrastructure expansion plan across the US over the next five years. The more than 700,000 square foot campus will have facilities in Morrisville and Durham alongside an expansion of an existing site. The aim of the build-out is to centralize end-to-end drug manufacturing for the US market. Novartis new hub will open between 2027 and 2028. The project is also expected to create around 700 direct jobs by 2030 and support more than 3,000 indirect positions across Novartis’ US supply chain. This will strengthen its production of key medicines and reinforce the company’s reach in the US pharmaceutical supply.
Project Overview
Novartis’ North Carolina manufacturing hub is central to the company’s broader investment plan in the US. The US has also seen a rising demand for medicines and a heightened focus on domestic supply chain security. The project will also bring together several therapeutic manufacturing capabilities, including biologics, sterile packaging and solid dosage tablets under one roof. Novartis will also be able to scale its production in oncology, immunology, neuroscience and other key disease areas in the US. By producing key medicines for patients in the US, Novartis also intends to substantially reduce reliance on overseas production and accelerate delivery timelines.
The involvement of US officials at the ground breaking ceremony, including North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also points toward broader public sector interest in strengthening America’s pharmaceutical manufacturing. This could also extend to enhancing the health security of Americans, especially with new build-outs by Merck Elkton in Virginia and Eli Lilly in Houston.
Outlook on Novartis North Carolina Manufacturing Hub
Construction of the Novartis manufacturing hub in North Carolina is underway. Commissioning is targeted for late 2027 through 2028 (as aforementioned).
Once operational, the manufacturing complex in the Research Triangle region will provide manufacturing capabilities, alongside supporting jobs, talent, and economic growth. The integration of new facilities in Durham – for biologics and sterile packaging, with the Morrisville site – for solid dosage tablets and capsules, and expansion of existing operations will also open up US supply chain efficiency.
The US$23 billion expansion plan by Novartis in the US also includes other parallel investments such as a new biomedical research hub in San Diego and expanded radioligand therapy production across multiple states.
Novartis North Carolina Flagship Manufacturing Hub Project Factsheet
Developer: Novartis AG
Location: Durham and Morrisville in North Carolina
Size: 700,000 square feet
Project Utility: Integrated manufacturing hub for drug production, packaging and end-to-end operations.
Key Focus: Biologics manufacturing, sterile packaging, solid dosage tablets, capsules, and expanded fill-finish capabilities.
Direct Jobs Created: 700 by 2030
Indirect Jobs Supported: 3,000 across supply chain.
Financial Backing: Part of Novartis’ US$23 billion investment over five years.
Expected Completion Date: 2027 to 2028
Project Timeline
November 2025: Novartis plans to expand manufacturing footprint in North Carolina. The pharma giant also outlines scope of new facilities.
December 2025: Official ground breaking ceremony held with senior executives, FDA bosses and state officials. Construction commences.
2026 to 2027: Construction to continue. Equipping and commissioning phases to progress. Also expected is workforce recruitment.
Late 2027 to 2028: Hub to start operations.
