Novartis Breaks Ground on First Radiopharmaceutical Production Facility in China

Novartis China Radioactive Pharmaceuticals Production Project Breaks Ground in Haiyan, Zhejiang Today, Officially Launching Construction. This marks Novartis' first radioligand therapy production base in China, expanding the manufacturing and supply capabilities of innovative radiopharmaceuticals both in China and globally. It supports the clinical application and development of China's healthcare industry, further reinforcing Novartis’ commitment to deepening its presence in the Chinese market, and bringing more effective and safe innovative therapies to patients in China.

Novartis China's Radiopharmaceutical Production Project is the company’s second innovative drug manufacturing base in China, located in the Nuclear Technology Application (Isotopes) Industrial Park in Haiyan County, Zhejiang Province, with an estimated total investment of 600 million RMB. From design to construction, the project utilizes advanced industry technologies and processes, adhering to the strictest safety requirements and the highest quality standards, with plans to produce internationally advanced radioligand therapy drugs. Provided the necessary regulatory approvals and permits are obtained, Novartis China's Radiopharmaceutical Production Project is expected to be completed and put into operation by the end of 2026, at which point it will have the capacity to supply Chinese patients with innovative drugs required for precise tumor treatment on a large scale.

At Novartis, we envision the future of medicine to improve the quality of life and extend human lifespan. China is one of the most strategically important markets for Novartis, and we continuously bring innovative drugs with high clinical value to Chinese patients. The groundbreaking and construction of Novartis China's radiopharmaceutical production project marks a significant milestone in the layout of innovative drugs. Novartis’ collaboration with various stakeholders in China’s healthcare system and radiopharmaceuticals industry demonstrates our commitment to advancing the improvement and development of China’s healthcare ecosystem, jointly ensuring that more Chinese patients can access the innovative treatments they need in a timely and reliable manner for more effective therapies.

Radioligand Therapy Aims to Redefine Standard Treatment for Various Cancer Patients. Radioligand therapy is an innovative conjugate drug that combines radionuclides with specific ligands targeting tumors, acting like "tumor-targeting missiles" with the ability to precisely kill tumor cells. It can achieve precise and efficient elimination of cancer cells while, due to the appropriate radiation range, minimize damage to healthy cells, enabling safe, targeted, and systemic precision treatment for tumors.

Innovation is the cornerstone of Novartis. We leverage innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas with significant unmet medical needs. Oncology is one of the four global disease areas that Novartis focuses on, and we are committed to introducing cutting-edge technology platforms, including radioligand therapy, into the field of cancer treatment. Due to the very short half-life of the radioactive isotopes used in radioligand therapy, precise time control from preparation to administration is crucial, placing extremely high demands on the production and distribution of both the isotopes and the finished drug products. The completion and operation of Novartis China's radiopharmaceutical production project will not only rapidly address the clinical needs of patients in China but also significantly boost Novartis' global capacity for radioligand drugs, contributing positively to the innovation, research, and industrialization of radioligand therapy in China.

Radioligand Therapy, along with chemotherapy, biotherapy, gene and cell therapy, and xRNA therapy, is one of the five key technology platforms that Novartis focuses on. Since 2017, Novartis has been deeply involved in the field of radioligand therapy and has become a global leader in this area. In March 2022, an innovative drug from Novartis’ targeted radioligand therapy received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who are positive for prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) and have progressed after treatment with androgen receptor pathway inhibitors and taxane chemotherapy. In December 2022, this innovative drug was approved in the European Union. Multiple multi-center clinical studies on this therapy have been initiated in China, but the drug has not yet been approved in the country. As of 2023, Novartis has several radioligand therapy-related products under development globally, expanding its application to other solid tumors.

The radiopharmaceuticals industry in China has become a strategically emerging industry supported by the state, with the government successively introducing a number of favorable policies. Novartis has accumulated highly specialized expertise in the research and development, production, clinical application, as well as interdisciplinary and cross-industry cooperation in the field of radioligand therapy. After the completion of Novartis China's Haiyan radiopharmaceuticals production base, it will further enhance Novartis’ global layout of radioligand therapy together with the existing production bases in Indianapolis and Millburn in the United States, Zaragoza in Spain, and Ivrea in Italy, to meet the growing demand of patients worldwide.

Innovation is the cornerstone of Novartis, and talent is the key to innovation. The future is here. As Novartis continues to cultivate and experience rapid growth in radioligand therapy, it is also building a talent pipeline in related fields and creating the best radioligand therapy team. Talent will achieve synchronized acceleration with innovative businesses.

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Editor: Bai Ji

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