$23 billion US investment plan gains momentum as new center aims to accelerate AI-driven drug discovery and advanced therapies
San Diego, California, 12 February 2026 – Novartis has officially begun construction on a major new global biomedical research center in San Diego, marking a significant step in expanding its drug discovery capabilities in the United States. The facility is expected to open in 2029 and will house around 1,000 employees across approximately 466,000 square feet of research and innovation space.
The new center will become part of the broader global research network of Novartis, connecting closely with its established hubs in Basel and Cambridge. By linking teams across regions, the company aims to create a more integrated and faster approach to discovering new medicines.
The San Diego site will support end-to-end drug discovery in key therapeutic areas such as neuroscience, oncology, regenerative medicine, global health, and age-related diseases. In simple terms, this means scientists at the center will work on everything from early research and testing to preparing treatments that can move into clinical development.
The facility will also strengthen expertise in advanced treatment approaches, including gene and cell therapies, RNA-based therapies, biologics, targeted protein degradation, and innovative drug delivery systems. These technologies represent some of the fastest-growing areas in modern pharmaceutical research.
A key feature of the new center will be the use of artificial intelligence and advanced computational tools. AI-driven drug discovery is becoming a major trend in the biotech industry, helping researchers analyze large data sets, identify promising drug targets, and speed up the development pipeline.
The San Diego project is part of Novartis’ broader $23 billion US investment strategy. This includes a manufacturing hub in North Carolina, a radioligand therapy manufacturing site in Carlsbad, California, facility expansions in Indiana and New Jersey, and planned radioligand therapy sites in Texas and Florida. Earlier this year, the company also announced plans to build a new radioligand therapy manufacturing facility in Winter Park, Florida.
According to company leadership, the new research center is designed to strengthen scientific leadership while enhancing collaboration with biotech companies, academic institutions, and technology partners in one of the world’s leading life sciences ecosystems.
With its focus on genetics, human biology, AI innovation, and next-generation therapies, the San Diego biomedical research hub is positioned to play a central role in accelerating the development of transformative medicines for patients worldwide.
