Novartis announced on Mar. 24 a commitment to invest 3.3 billion Chinese yuan ($480 million) to expand its development and manufacturing capacity in China.
The move highlights the growing focus of major pharmaceutical companies on the Chinese market, following recent large-scale investments by Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca. Novartis aims to strengthen its presence through facility upgrades and expanded production capabilities.
According to the company, a significant portion of the investment will go toward expanding its facility in Beijing’s Changping district, which was established in 1987. The site currently has an annual production capacity of up to 3 billion tablets or capsules and can package up to 550 million boxes per year. About $218 million will be used for new factory buildings, supporting facilities, and advanced production technologies related to aseptic preparation processes, liquid filling, and packaging.
Additionally, Novartis said it will invest $262 million in expanding its China headquarters in Shanghai by launching the second phase of its campus project there. The Shanghai site has been operational for ten years.
This announcement follows AstraZeneca's pledge earlier this year to invest $15 billion in China by the end of the decade as part of efforts to reset U.K.-China relations. AstraZeneca recently opened a commercial cell therapy manufacturing base within a free trade zone in Shanghai as part of these plans. Earlier this month, Eli Lilly committed $3 billion over ten years for its own expansion projects targeting anticipated demand for new therapies such as orforglipron.
Novartis made these commitments during the China Development Forum 2026 held recently in Beijing. Reuters reported that more U.S. corporate leaders attended this year's event than before, including Lilly CEO David Ricks and Novartis CEO Vas Narasimhan.
At the forum, Novartis also recommended regulatory changes concerning radiopharmaceuticals—a key area for the company—including technical standards development and localization policies. The company is building a plant in China dedicated to producing radioligand therapies like Pluvicto, which received expanded approval last March for treating certain prostate cancers prior to chemotherapy.
