By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : November 14, 2025 11:37 am
Novartis is the only pharmaceutical company with a dedicated commercial RLT portfolio
Novartis, a global leader in innovative medicines, has unveiled a 10,000-square-foot radioligand therapy (RLT) manufacturing facility in Carlsbad, California, marking a major milestone in its $23 billion US infrastructure expansion over the next five years.
The facility positions Novartis to scale its groundbreaking cancer treatments, bringing life-saving precision therapies closer to patients while reinforcing the company’s global leadership in RLT innovation.
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, the company said in a release.
“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 US 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 unmatched 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.
“We commend Novartis for supporting our broader mission of bringing manufacturing capacity in the United States,” said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary. “Our unique partnership approach is working.”
“Novartis is transforming the future of cancer care—and it's happening right here in Carlsbad,” said Carlsbad City Council Member Melanie Burkholder. “This new advanced RLT production facility is a major milestone for our region, strengthening California’s position as a hub for life sciences innovation. It will bring exciting new opportunities for our community, including more engineering and manufacturing jobs. I'm proud our local community will be part of the future of cancer care.”