Three major pharmaceutical companies have simultaneously unveiled large-scale manufacturing projects across the US.
The move of each company points to a broader industry trend toward onshoring critical cleanroom production capacity for advanced treatments in the country.
Novartis radioligand therapy manufacturing in Texas
Swiss-based Novartis announced plans to build a new radioligand therapy manufacturing site in Denton, Texas.
The build is the first in the state and fifth in the US, as part of a larger $23bn investment to expand domestic manufacturing.
The 46,000 sqft facility will be purpose-built for RLT production, which relies on specialised cleanroom environments to produce targeted cancer therapies such as Pluvicto and Lutathera.
Construction is slated to begin in 2026, with operations expected by 2028.
The facility will serve patients in the Southern US while supporting jobs in bioengineering, quality and advanced manufacturing.
While Novartis is expanding its US cleanroom capabilities, it is simultaneously restructuring operations at its Swiss site, highlighting a strategic shift in its global manufacturing footprint.
At the end of last year, the company cut about 550 jobs at its Stein, Switzerland site, citing a global manufacturing reshuffle.
A month prior, the company announced plans to build an advanced cleanroom manufacturing hub in North Carolina.
AbbVie API clean manufacturing upgrade in North Chicago
AbbVie revealed a $380m investment to build two new active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facilities at its North Chicago, Illinois, campus.
These buildings will expand clean production capacity for the active components of next-generation neuroscience and obesity medications, integrating advanced manufacturing technologies and artificial intelligence.
Construction is to begin in spring 2026, with full operations anticipated in 2029.
The project will support approximately 300 new hires, including engineers, operators and lab technicians.
Johnson & Johnson cell therapy manufacturing in Pennsylvania
Johnson & Johnson announced more than $1bn investment to build a next-generation cell therapy manufacturing facility in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.
This project will house cleanroom and advanced bioprocessing infrastructure to produce cell-based treatments for oncology, immune-mediated and neurological diseases.
Scheduled to begin construction in late 2026 with operations by 2031, the facility will generate roughly 500 permanent skilled biomanufacturing jobs and over 4,000 construction roles while expanding J&J’s US production footprint.
Each of the projects from the three pharma giants involves complex, highly controlled cleanroom environments, which are essential for maintaining sterility and quality in the production of sophisticated biologics, APIs and radiopharmaceuticals.
Together, they reflect a concerted push by leading pharmaceutical manufacturers to onshore critical production capacity and advanced technology platforms within the US.