Novartis to Enhance Radioligand Therapy Manufacturing in Florida
East Hanover, N.J., January 9, 2026 – Novartis (NVS), a prominent player in the global innovative medicines sector, has announced its plans to establish a new radioligand therapy (RLT) manufacturing facility in Winter Park, Florida. This facility, which will be the fourth of its kind in the United States, signifies another important step in Novartis’ ongoing $23 billion investment initiative unveiled in April 2025, aimed at expanding production capabilities to meet the increasing demand for advanced cancer treatments.
Facility Details and Timeline
The new 35,000-square-foot facility in Winter Park is anticipated to commence operations by 2029. This site will bolster Novartis’ specialized manufacturing capabilities and enhance its supply chain across the existing RLT production network. The strategic location is designed to optimize the delivery of RLT medications to patients throughout the southeastern United States, ensuring the company maintains an impressive rate of over 99% for doses administered as scheduled, which is critical as RLT usage broadens.
Quotes from Leadership
“Building this new facility in Florida marks an important step in fulfilling the promise of RLT for patients,” stated Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis. He highlighted that, “Radioligand therapy has fundamentally changed how we approach certain cancers, and our growing US manufacturing network ensures we can continue to deliver these critical medicines with speed and reliability to patients who need them.”
The Technology Behind RLT
Radioligand therapy is a precise treatment modality that combines a tumor-targeting molecule (ligand) with a therapeutic radioisotope, permitting targeted radiation to be delivered directly to cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. Each RLT dose is meticulously prepared, making timing essential for the therapy's efficacy. Proximity to treatment facilities and reliable transportation networks is critical to ensure timely patient access to these therapies.
Novartis’ Pioneering Role in RLT
As the only company to have achieved FDA approval for two RLT treatments, Novartis (NVS) stands at the forefront of this innovative technology. The company is advancing its RLT pipeline across various tumor types, which reflects its commitment to transforming cancer care. Novartis is also focused on enhancing manufacturing techniques to ensure consistent delivery and reliability for both patients and healthcare providers.
Investments in Florida and Future Outlook
Florida's commitment to life sciences education and technology has attracted Novartis, facilitating the development of a skilled workforce necessary for specialized manufacturing, including RLT. Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly noted, “Thanks to deliberate, focused, intensified investments and world-class health innovation partnerships, we have led Florida to become a national and world-recognized leader for breakthroughs in cancer treatment.”
- This facility is the fourth of five planned RLT manufacturing sites.
- Ongoing expansions are taking place in Indiana and New Jersey.
- A new facility in California was completed in November 2025.
About Novartis and RLT
Novartis is on a mission to redefine cancer treatment with RLT, aiming to enhance patient outcomes for those with advanced cancers. This innovative approach utilizes targeted radiation therapy that aims to directly address cancerous growths throughout the body. Novartis is advancing one of the industry’s most comprehensive RLT pipelines, conducting clinical trials in multiple cancer types, including prostate, breast, colon, lung, and pancreatic cancers.