The pharmaceutical giant’s new 700,000-square-foot hub aims to onshore production of key medicines and strengthen the US drug supply chain.
Novartis has officially broken ground on a 700,000-square-foot-plus flagship manufacturing hub that is expected to provide end-to-end manufacturing services.1 The project—originally unveiled last month2—will feature the design of a new Morrisville plant, along with a new site in Durham that will include two facilities of its own.
The services of the current Durham plant will also be grown—featuring gene therapy production as it stands—by expanding its services to include the sterile filling of biologics into syringes and vials. These new investments are expected to create 700 new Novartis jobs in the state, along with more than 3,000 indirect jobs across the supply chain by the end of the decade.
The strategic investment is part of the company’s greater mission to investment $23 billion over the next five years toward US infrastructure, while also serving as a way to strengthen the US pharma supply chain.
“It’s an exciting day for Novartis as we break ground on our new manufacturing hub, a crucial step toward delivering on our goal of producing all our key medicines for US patients domestically,” said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis. “Once complete, this new hub will become a central site for Novartis manufacturing in the US, strengthening our supply chain and underscoring our commitment to American patients.”
The integrated facilities, which are expected to be ready by 2027-2028, will function as a single hub, broadening production capabilities across the company’s primary therapeutic areas, from oncology and immunology to neuroscience and cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic medicine.
“North Carolina continues to lead in cutting-edge life sciences,” commented NC Governor Josh Stein. “Novartis’ decision to deepen its roots here speaks to the strength of our talent, our research universities, and our commitment to leading the nation in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing. These investments bring in more good-paying jobs for North Carolinians and build a stronger, more resilient supply chain for patients across the country.”
Emphasizing the role of domestic production in advancing national security and supply chain resilience, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary, MD, MPH, commented, “The FDA is pleased to support the America First agenda in manufacturing. It’s common sense and it increases our national security. Novartis’ investment is a strong step toward making drugs for Americans in America.”
Meanwhile, efforts to onshore manufacturing have been more numerous lately, as a way to combat tariffs that were enacted by the current administration.
In mid-November, to boost domestic drug product manufacturing of its own, Moderna announced3 a new $140 million investment in its onshore manufacturing that’ll bring its manufacturing capabilities to its Norwood, MA Moderna Technology Center (MTC), which is anticipated to be completed by H1 2027.
"By onshoring drug product manufacturing to our campus in Norwood, Massachusetts, we have completed the full manufacturing loop under one roof in the US," commented Stéphane Bancel, Moderna’s CEO. "As an American company committed to building and producing in America, we are proud to strengthen our domestic footprint while bringing meaningful new jobs to the community."
References
1. Novartis Breaks Ground on Flagship Manufacturing Hub in North Carolina. Novartis. December 12, 2025. Accessed November 16, 2025.
2. Saraceno N. Novartis Unveils Expansive North Carolina Manufacturing Hub to Strengthen US Drug Supply Chain. Pharmaceutical Commerce. November 20, 2025. Accessed November 20, 2025.
3. Jacobus N. Moderna Investing $140 Million in Massachusetts Manufacturing Facility. Pharmaceutical Executive. November 19, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025.
