Novartis Breaks Ground on $23B Biomedical Research Hub in San Diego

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis has officially begun construction on a new global biomedical research center in San Diego, California, marking a major expansion of its US research footprint. 

The state-of-the-art facility, part of a broader $23 billion investment in US R&D and manufacturing, will span roughly 466,000 square feet and is designed to support end-to-end drug discovery across priority therapeutic areas such as neuroscience, oncology, global health and age-related diseases.

Scheduled to open in 2029, the center is expected to house about 1,000 researchers and staff and integrate with Novartis’ global research network that includes hubs in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Basel, Switzerland. 

Novartis says the facility will bring together advanced technologies, including AI-enabled discovery platforms, to accelerate the development of breakthrough medicines and deepen collaboration with local biotech, academic and technology partners.

“This new research center will strengthen our scientific leadership and accelerate the discovery of transformative medicines for patients worldwide, while deepening our connectivity with biotech, academic and technology partners across the region,” said Fiona Marshall, President of Biomedical Research at Novartis. 

“Designed to power future drug discovery, with a focus on genetics and human biology in key therapeutic areas such as neuroscience and oncology, it will create a single Novartis research center within one of the world’s premier life sciences ecosystems — accelerating our pipeline from discovery to patients,” she added. 

Novartis says the San Diego project reflects the company’s long-term commitment to US innovation and builds on more than 25 years of research activities in the region.

The San Diego location positions Novartis within one of the most vibrant life science clusters in the US. The city is home to dozens of biotech startups, major pharma operations and leading academic institutions, including the University of California, San Diego, and the Salk Institute. San Diego’s ecosystem has earned a reputation as a global hub for biotech innovation, particularly in areas such as immunology, cell and gene therapy and precision medicine.

“This investment by Novartis reinforces San Diego as a place where breakthrough science happens and where innovation translates into high-quality jobs and life-changing medicines,” said Todd Gloria, San Diego Mayor. “San Diego is a global leader in life sciences because we bring together world-class talent, cutting-edge research and a collaborative ecosystem that turns discovery into impact. We’re proud to welcome this new research center and to continue building an economy rooted in innovation and results.”