North Carolina Construction News staff writer
Novartis has broken ground on a more than 700,000-sq.-ft. pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in North Carolina, marking the start of construction on a major multi-site expansion in the state.
The project includes a new manufacturing facility in Morrisville, two new facilities on a separate site in Durham, and the expansion of an existing Novartis operation in Durham. Together, the developments are expected to create about 700 direct jobs by 2030 and support more than 3,000 indirect jobs across the company’s U.S. supply chain.
The North Carolina expansion is part of Novartis’ broader $23-billion investment in U.S.-based infrastructure over the next five years. Once completed, the company said the manufacturing hub will serve as a central production site for its U.S. operations, supporting domestic manufacturing of its key medicines.
Construction formally began following a groundbreaking ceremony attended by U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, state and local officials, and company executives.
Novartis said the facilities are designed to provide end-to-end manufacturing capabilities across its main therapeutic areas, strengthening supply chain resilience and reducing reliance on overseas production. The company operates manufacturing and research sites across the U.S., and the North Carolina hub is intended to anchor its East Coast production network.
The new manufacturing hub is expected to open in phases between 2027 and 2028. Specific construction timelines and contractors have not yet been disclosed.
The North Carolina project follows a series of recent U.S. investments by Novartis, including expanded radioligand therapy manufacturing capacity in California, Indiana and New Jersey, and plans for new manufacturing sites in Florida and Texas. The company has also announced a separate $1.1-billion biomedical research hub planned for San Diego.
State officials said the project builds on North Carolina’s established life sciences and advanced manufacturing base, particularly in the Research Triangle region, where Novartis already maintains a significant presence.
