Novartis has pledged to invest more than $480 million (3.3 billion Chinese yuan) to expand its R&D, production and operations presence in China.
The news, announced at the China Development Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Beijing, involves multiple expansion and upgrade projects, including plans to spend $218 million (1.5 billion Chinese yuan) to build up its tablets/capsules and packaging plant in Changping, established in 1987. Novartis says it will construct new factory buildings and supporting facilities, and introduce new production technologies and equipment such as aseptic preparation processes, liquid filling and packaging.
Additionally, Novartis, along with investors, will spend $262 million (1.8 billion Chinese yuan) to launch the second phase of the Shanghai campus project — home to the company's China headquarters.
The news comes as other major pharma players also invest in China. Last week, AstraZeneca revealed plans to establish a commercial cell therapy manufacturing and supply base and innovation center in Shanghai, as part of the company’s $15 billion investment pledge in China announced this past January. Eli Lilly also recently announced a $3 billion upgrade to its manufacturing operations in China, specifically focused on local production and supply for oral solid drugs, including its GLP-1 pill orforglipron.