Zurich, Jan 10, 2026, 20:36 CET — Market closed
- Novartis is setting up its fourth U.S. radioligand therapy manufacturing site in Winter Park, Florida, targeting a 2029 launch.
- Zurich’s shares closed Friday at 114.04 Swiss francs, up 0.25%, hovering just below their 52-week high.
- Investors will be watching the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference on Jan. 12 and Novartis’ earnings report due Feb. 4.
Novartis AG (NOVN.S) is set to open a radioligand therapy manufacturing plant in Winter Park, Florida, part of its broader $23 billion U.S. production expansion. Shares of the Swiss drugmaker ended Friday up 0.25% at 114.04 Swiss francs, just shy of their 52-week peak of 114.64. CEO Vas Narasimhan described the facility as “an important step,” while Florida’s commerce chief J. Alex Kelly welcomed the move as an opportunity to bring in “world class innovators.”
Radioligand therapy, known as RLT, combines a tumour-targeting molecule with a therapeutic radioisotope, directing radiation straight at the tumour while minimizing harm to nearby tissue. Each dose is custom-made, with a narrow delivery timeframe.
This detail is crucial since manufacturing and logistics can choke off supply well before a drugmaker runs short of patients. The Florida ruling looks like a long-term fix, yet it underpins a business Novartis aims to pitch as both reliable and scalable.
Novartis expects the 35,000-square-foot facility to be operational by 2029, aiming to maintain a dose administration success rate above 99% on schedule. The Florida site will mark the company’s fourth out of five U.S. radioligand therapy (RLT) facilities, with ongoing expansions in Indiana and New Jersey, plus a California facility that opened last November. 1
Since the Swiss market is closed Saturday, focus turns to Novartis’s upcoming remarks rather than trading action. The company is set to present at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco on Jan. 12. This will serve as an early gauge of investor interest in the sector’s “growth plus defensives” strategy. 2
Macro factors might move fast. December’s U.S. consumer price index hits on Jan. 13. A surprise rise could rattle rate forecasts and push funds away from dividend-rich defensives, especially some healthcare sectors. 3
Later this month, the Federal Reserve’s policy meeting on Jan. 27–28 will serve as a key moment for yields and equity multiples. 4
That Florida facility won’t be churning out commercial batches for years. Any hiccups—delays, budget blowouts, or issues with radioisotope supply—could easily derail the claim that boosting capacity ensures more consistent sales.
The stock currently sits close to the upper edge of its recent range. Investors are waiting for new information on timing, spending, and the yet-to-be-named fifth U.S. RLT location.
Novartis is set to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Feb. 4. 5
