Category: 3. Business

• New 35,000-square-foot facility in Winter Park will expand RLT manufacturing footprint to optimize delivery for patients across southeastern US
• Purpose-built facility will strengthen Novartis RLT manufacturing network alongside existing Indiana, New Jersey, and recently completed California sites
• Novartis RLT portfolio advancing with new isotopes, ligands and combination therapies, bringing innovation to new cancer types

Basel, January 9, 2026 – Novartis, a leading global innovative medicines company, today announced plans to build its fourth US radioligand therapy (RLT) manufacturing facility in Winter Park, Florida. The built-for-purpose, state-of-the-art facility represents another milestone in the company’s $23 billion US investment announced in April 2025, further expanding manufacturing capabilities to meet growing demand for these cutting-edge cancer treatments. Novartis is scaling US manufacturing to bring innovative medicines closer to patients, so treatments are researched, made, and delivered with greater speed, reliability, and access in the communities where people live.

The new 35,000-square-foot facility in Winter Park, Florida, will come online by 2029 and will strengthen Novartis’ specialized supply chain and manufacturing capabilities across its network of RLT production facilities. The new facility will optimize the delivery of RLT medicines to patients in the southeast US and help maintain the company’s steady rate of >99% of doses administered on the planned day as the potential for this promising treatment modality continues to expand.

“Building this new facility in Florida marks an important step in fulfilling the promise of RLT for patients,” said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis. “Radioligand therapy has fundamentally changed how we approach certain cancers, and our growing US manufacturing network ensures we can continue to deliver these critical medicines with speed and reliability to patients who need them.”

RLT is a type of precision treatment that pairs a tumor-targeting molecule (ligand) with a therapeutic radioisotope, allowing radiation to be delivered directly to the tumor while minimizing harm to surrounding healthy tissue. Each RLT dose is individually prepared, and its delivery is highly time sensitive. Proximity to treatment facilities and transportation hubs is critical to ensure patients receive their therapy promptly and at the right location. RLT has the potential to transform oncology treatment and bring new options to people living with cancer.

As the sole company with two FDA-approved RLT treatments and an extensive RLT pipeline across several tumors and targets, Novartis has global expertise in this cutting-edge technology platform that is transforming cancer care. That knowledge has fueled advancements in manufacturing techniques to build capacity and consistently deliver with confidence for patients and healthcare providers.  

RLT manufacturing requires specialized talent, a key factor in determining the location for each new facility. Florida has steadily invested in higher education for life sciences and technology, helping to build the next generation of leaders critical to driving forward advanced manufacturing for platforms like RLT. With a growing skilled workforce and a regulatory and policy environment that values pharmaceutical innovation, Florida is well positioned to become a leader in pharmaceutical manufacturing. 

“Thanks to deliberate, focused, intensified investments and world class health innovation partnerships, we have led Florida to become a national and world-recognized leader for breakthroughs in cancer treatment, neurological innovations, and more,” said Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly. “Novartis’ investment in manufacturing cancer medicines here in Florida—where we’re already #2 nationally in both manufacturing for medicine and medical device technology—is an incredible opportunity to welcome world class innovators to our incredibly collaborative and impactful life sciences community.”

Over the next 5 years, Novartis will solidify its robust US RLT manufacturing network. The new Florida site is the fourth of five existing or planned facilities. The company is currently investing in expansions of its RLT facilities in Indiana and New Jersey. In November, Novartis announced completion of a new RLT facility in California, and it plans to build a fifth location in the US. 

Novartis and radioligand therapy (RLT)
Novartis is reimagining cancer care with RLT for patients with advanced cancers. By harnessing the power of targeted radiation and applying it to advanced cancers, RLT is designed to deliver treatment directly to target cells anywhere in the body.  

Novartis is actively investigating the application of RLTs across cancer types and settings, with one of the deepest and most advanced pipelines in the industry, with trials in prostate cancer, breast, colon, lung, brain, pancreatic and other cancers. Novartis has established global expertise, with specialized supply chain and manufacturing capabilities across its network of RLT production sites around the world. 

Disclaimer 
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as “potential,” “can,” “will,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “look forward,” “believe,” “committed,” “investigational,” “pipeline,” “launch,” or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential marketing approvals, new indications or labeling for the investigational or approved products described in this press release; or regarding potential future revenues from such products; or regarding discussions of strategy, plans, expectations or intentions, including discussions regarding our continued investment into new US manufacturing and R&D capabilities. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the investigational or approved products described in this press release will be submitted or approved for sale or for any additional indications or labeling in any market, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that such products will be commercially successful in the future. Neither can there be any guarantee that the expected benefits from the plans and investments described in this press release will be achieved in the expected timeframe, or at all. In particular, our expectations regarding such products could be affected by, among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis 
Novartis is an innovative medicines company. Every day, we work to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives so that patients, healthcare professionals and societies are empowered in the face of serious disease. Our medicines reach nearly 300 million people worldwide.

Reimagine medicine with us: Visit us at https://www.novartis.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X/Twitter and Instagram.

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Dustin Bass, DNP, MHA, RN, CEN, NEA-BC, vice president of ECU Health Emergency Services, has officially begun his term as the 2026 president of the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). He steps into the role with a clear mission to strengthen the sense of community, belonging, and professional support among the association’s more than 40,000 members worldwide. With more than 15 years of clinical and leadership experience, his election marks another milestone in a career defined by service and commitment to the nurses who care for patients at their most vulnerable moments.

Bass’s passion for emergency care began early in life. As a teenager volunteering in a hospital, he witnessed a nurse leap onto a stretcher to perform CPR – an experience that cemented his desire to pursue nursing. A first-generation college graduate, he earned his nursing diploma in 2011 and later completed his doctorate in health care leadership, systems and policy at Yale University in 2023. His career has since spanned bedside care, system-level leadership, authorship and national advocacy.

As ENA president, Bass plans to focus on strengthening relationships across the emergency nursing profession. “Emergency nurses give so much of themselves, and they deserve an association that gives back just as powerfully,” Bass said. “2026 will be a year of belonging, community and hope—one that reflects the undeniable strength and spirit of emergency nursing.”

Bass has been active in ENA since 2010, serving on committees and councils, leading the Nevada ENA Council, and joining the ENA Board of Directors in 2021. His presidency begins alongside a diverse and accomplished 2026 ENA Board of Directors, including both returning leaders and newly elected members. He is the author of The Leadership Dashboard and Leadership Affirmations: A Coloring Book and Journal, and he frequently presents on leadership at ENA conferences and on national media platforms. His achievements have been widely recognized, including being named to the inaugural ENA 20 Under 40 list in 2021, selection for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership’s Young Professional Voices class of 2023, and recognition in North Carolina as a Great 100 Nurse.

His leadership philosophy – “helping people help others” – has guided his work to support nurses at the bedside and beyond. Colleagues describe Bass as someone who can navigate the complexities of a large academic health system while still rolling up his sleeves to support frontline teams.

“I try to inspire and uplift our team to be the best they can be, so they can be the best for our patients,” he said. “I like to get my hands dirty and get the job done. It’s a large, academic medical system, but it still has a family feel to it. That’s not something you see in larger institutions. I appreciate that and can be myself.”

As he steps into the ENA presidency, Bass brings that same dedication to the national stage to champion the emergency nurses who keep communities safe every day.

January 9, 2026 | Austin, Texas
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Appointment

Governor Greg Abbott named Lemuel Williams, Jr. as chair of the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation Board of Directors and appointed David Lewis and reappointed Valerie Vargas Cardenas to the board for terms set to expire on February 1, 2031. The Board oversees the provision of affordable housing for low-income Texans.

Lemuel Williams, Jr. of Austin is the senior director of technology alliances for Atos IT Solutions and Services, Inc. He is the vice-chair of the Board of Directors of Amplify Credit Union, where he also serves as chair of the loan committee. He previously served as an executive board member of the Future Forum of the LBJ Presidential Library and served as an appointee on the City of Austin Technology and Telecommunications Commission. Williams received a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Information Systems from The University of Texas (UT) at Austin.

David Lewis of Austin is the president and managing member of Montlake Capital Management, LLC. He is a past director and past president of the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Society of Dallas–Fort Worth and past director and past vice president of the Seattle CFA Society. He serves as the president’s council representative to the CFA Institute for the Central and Southwest U.S. Region and advocacy chair of the CFA Societies Texas. Lewis received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from UT Austin and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University.

Valerie Vargas Cardenas of San Juan is the executive vice president of Mortgage Banking operations for Texas National Bank. She currently serves as chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of San Juan and is a member of the Hidalgo County Prosperity Task Force Housing Committee. She is also a member of the Rio Grande Valley Builders Association and the Greater McAllen Association of REALTORS. Cardenas received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from St. Edward’s University.

“It is almost unbelievable what the Uppsala researchers achieved under the conditions they had. But when the study ended, the ability to continue providing treatment unfortunately disappeared,” says Stephan Mielke, professor at the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Karolinska Institutet.

He describes how Sweden, initially at the forefront, fell behind. Major companies chose other countries for their trials. The first approved CAR-T therapy in Europe, Tisa-Cel, did not receive an NT Council recommendation for lymphoma due to uncertainties in the health-economic assessment.

“It was a strange situation. Sweden was so early with this innovative product, but when patients in other countries received commercial CAR-T cells, Swedish patients did not. That was the situation when I was recruited in 2017,” says Mielke, who also serves as medical lead for cell therapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation at Karolinska University Hospital.

He worked to certify the hospital for collaboration with industry on CAR-T cells. In November 2019, the first Swedish treatment in routine care was given, and Mielke was one of the treating physicians.

“The same day we signed the agreement with the company, we started the first treatment. It was a child who was very, very ill. I won’t go into details, but the situation has truly improved for that child,” he says.

Good results in routine care

Together with other researchers, he recently published a summary in Leukemia on the first hundred patients treated with CAR-T in Swedish routine care. All had blood cancers involving diseased B cells and were severely ill; for many, all other options were exhausted.

Adults treated between 2019 and 2024 had a 67 percent probability of being alive two years post-treatment, a result that according to the authors are better than observed in other European countries. Most who died during the period died from their cancer; some died in connection with treatment.

CAR-T cells are extraordinarily potent–in both efficacy and potential side effects, Stephan Mielke explains.

“You only grasp the magnitude when you see it,” he says.

CAR-T cells are manipulated T cells, normally part of the immune system. They are collected from the patient’s blood and modified in the lab, where they are given a new receptor which replaces the one they normally use to recognise threats in the bloodstream. 

This receptor includes an antibody component that draws them like magnets to specific cells, which they then destroy.

“It happens at breakneck speed–the immune reaction is powerful. If there are many cancer cells, we can see a reaction similar to some COVID patients–cytokine storms, where the immune response is so strong that the body is harmed,” says Mielke.

Healthcare has become progressively better at managing such side effects, but they may still require hospital care. CAR-T is a rapidly advancing modality–the most widely used ATMP. Five CAR-T medicines are now recommended by NT Council for routine use in Sweden, for various forms of lymphoma, leukaemia and myeloma, all B-cell diseases.

It is no coincidence that early CAR-T therapies target B cells: people can live without B cells. If CAR-T cells become overzealous and kill both diseased and healthy cells, patients with B-cell disease may still do well.

Tested against autoimmune diseases

Initial efforts to broaden CAR-T have targeted other B-cell–driven diseases, including autoimmune conditions such as several rheumatic diseases and multiple sclerosis.

Smaller studies have already shown that patients with severe SLE or myositis–potentially fatal rheumatic conditions–have appeared healthy after CAR-T and were able to stop their rheumatology drugs. Others with severe systemic sclerosis saw marked symptom improvement but still needed medication, as described in a 2024 study with 15 months of follow-up.

Mielke foresees CAR-T taking a larger role in care. A next step is in vivo manufacturing–producing CAR-T inside the body rather than in the lab. Another avenue involves allogeneic T cells from healthy donors, potentially enabling off-the-shelf cell products.

Intense research is also underway to make CAR-T effective against solid tumours, not just B-cell diseases. The challenge is identifying targets truly specific to tumours, clearly distinguishing diseased from healthy cells.

According to Mielke, it is only a matter of time before this is solved.

“We will make progress. There are so many researchers invested in this,” he says.

In short: CAR-T treatments are expected to grow in number, cover more diseases, and become more sophisticated.

A similar trajectory is underway in gene therapy. Many monogenic diseases are in the focus of researchers, while attention also turns to more complex conditions involving multiple genes and proteins–the field’s momentum is high.

“We are only at the beginning of this journey. I think all healthcare in future will have an ATMP element–from eyes, ears and teeth to reproduction, ageing and memory, and everything in between. We can’t yet imagine it,” says Mielke.

High price tag but great potential benefits

The price tag is equally hard to imagine. New gene therapies, often given once, are extraordinarily expensive, taking turns at being called “the world’s most expensive drug.” Right now haemophilia therapy Hemgenix is described as the most expensive, recently it was Libmeldy for MLD, and before that Zolgensma for SMA. In Sweden, the price for a single dose is around or above 30 million kronor.

That can alarm any regional policymaker. Even if each patient group is tiny, together they add up–especially as more medicines reach the market.

Health-economic evaluations for ATMPs are hard for several reasons. How should the cost of a single expensive one-off dose be weighed against savings over time when other treatments are no longer needed? Annual budgets are a poor fit. It is also difficult to judge how durable cures really are when long-term studies are lacking.

These issues remain unresolved. Proposed solutions include instalment-like payment models, where regions pay over a longer period, and outcomes-based agreements, where companies are paid only if a certain effect is achieved.

“Making these medicines available to patients is the greatest challenge,” says Mielke.

AUSTIN ⎯ Texas added 7,300 nonfarm jobs in November to reach a total of 14,321,000 positions. Over the year, the state added 146,300 jobs for an annual nonfarm growth rate of 1.0 percent, outpacing the national growth rate by 0.4 percentage points.

Texas’ civilian labor force registered at 15,938,500 after adding 59,500 people since September 2025 and reaching a new record high level for the series. Over the year, Texas’ civilian labor force has added 206,800 people.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in Texas registered at 4.2 percent.

“As Texas employers add thousands of jobs, TWC programs can help them grow, develop, and retain a skilled workforce,” said TWC Chairman Joe Esparza. “Initiatives like Skills for Small Business and the Skills Development Fund are training Texans for in-demand jobs that will cement Texas’ reputation as the best state in the nation for doing business.”

The Private Education and Health Services industry had the largest private sector over-the-month increase in November after adding 5,700 jobs. Professional and Business Services added 3,900 jobs over the month while Manufacturing added 2,300. In addition, the Construction industry posted an annual growth rate of 2.8 percent in November, which was the highest of any major industry.

“Texas’ increasing job numbers are encouraging, and it’s vital that these are good jobs that provide family-sustaining wages and benefits for Texas workers. We must continue to prioritize investments in skills training and development to ensure that all Texans can access these opportunities and share in the state’s prosperity,” said TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III. “As we celebrate this growth, let’s also remain committed to fair labor practices and worker protections to ensure a thriving workforce for years to come.”

The Amarillo metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the lowest unemployment rate with a not seasonally adjusted rate of 3.1 percent in November, followed by the Midland MSA at 3.2 percent. The College Station-Bryan and San Angelo MSAs both registered at 3.3 percent.

“Texas’ job growth in November not only highlights the benefits of our diverse and growing economy but also underscores the importance of making sure Texans can thrive in their communities,” said TWC Commissioner Representing the Public Brent Connett. “TWC and our statewide network of local partners are able to continue strengthening the Texas economy and the foundations of our communities.”

Employment estimates released by TWC are produced in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. *All estimates are subject to revision. To access this and more employment data, visit https://TexasLMI.com.

Civilian Labor Force Estimates for Texas Metropolitan Statistical Areas Not Seasonally Adjusted (In Thousands)

	November 2025				October 2025				November 2024
	C.L.F.	Emp.	Unemp.	Rate	C.L.F.	Emp.	Unemp.	Rate	C.L.F.	Emp.	Unemp.	Rate
United States	171,467.0	164,066.0	7,401.0	4.3	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	168,164.0	161,456.0	6,708.0	4.0
Texas	16,038.7	15,361.9	676.7	4.2	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	15,758.9	15,115.3	643.6	4.1
Abilene	89.1	85.9	3.1	3.5	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	87.6	84.6	3.0	3.4
Amarillo	142.3	137.8	4.5	3.1	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	139.4	135.1	4.3	3.1
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos	1,544.2	1,489.5	54.7	3.5	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	1,519.0	1,465.5	53.5	3.5
Beaumont-Port Arthur	188.2	178.1	10.1	5.4	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	185.3	175.5	9.8	5.3
Brownsville-Harlingen	200.1	186.9	13.1	6.6	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	191.7	181.9	9.8	5.1
College Station-Bryan	160.7	155.4	5.4	3.3	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	156.2	150.9	5.2	3.3
Corpus Christi	215.6	205.6	10.0	4.6	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	211.2	202.2	9.0	4.3
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington	4,592.7	4,410.4	182.3	4.0	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	4,533.1	4,357.1	176.1	3.9
Dallas-Plano-Irving MD	3,123.0	2,997.8	125.2	4.0	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	3,087.2	2,966.7	120.5	3.9
Fort Worth-Arlington-Grapevine MD	1,469.7	1,412.6	57.1	3.9	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	1,445.9	1,390.3	55.6	3.8
Eagle Pass	25.1	23.0	2.1	8.3	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	24.2	22.4	1.7	7.1
El Paso	425.2	406.2	19.0	4.5	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	419.3	401.7	17.5	4.2
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands	3,929.4	3,751.6	177.8	4.5	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	3,870.7	3,701.4	169.3	4.4
Killeen-Temple	205.9	195.9	9.9	4.8	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	203.0	193.7	9.2	4.5
Laredo	123.1	117.8	5.3	4.3	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	120.2	115.3	4.9	4.1
Longview	131.4	125.4	6.0	4.6	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	129.6	123.2	6.4	5.0
Lubbock	188.9	182.3	6.5	3.5	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	186.1	179.6	6.5	3.5
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission	412.2	386.4	25.8	6.3	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	398.5	375.2	23.2	5.8
Midland	106.6	103.2	3.4	3.2	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	104.7	101.5	3.2	3.0
Odessa	89.5	86.1	3.4	3.8	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	87.1	84.0	3.1	3.6
San Angelo	64.2	62.1	2.1	3.3	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	62.8	60.7	2.1	3.4
San Antonio-New Braunfels	1,381.0	1,325.8	55.2	4.0	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	1,354.1	1,302.2	52.0	3.8
Sherman-Denison	73.5	70.6	3.0	4.0	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	72.1	69.3	2.8	3.8
Texarkana	63.5	60.8	2.8	4.4	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	62.3	59.8	2.5	4.0
Tyler	121.9	117.1	4.9	4.0	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	119.5	114.8	4.6	3.9
Victoria	46.4	44.4	2.0	4.3	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	45.5	43.6	1.9	4.1
Waco	150.9	144.8	6.2	4.1	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	148.5	142.8	5.7	3.8
Wichita Falls	67.8	65.1	2.6	3.9	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	#N/A	67.1	64.5	2.6	3.8

Texas Nonagricultural Wage and Salary Employment Seasonally Adjusted

INDUSTRY TITLE	Nov 2025*	Oct 2025	Nov 2024	Oct ’25 to Nov ’25		Nov ’24 to Nov ’25
				Absolute Change	Percent Change	Absolute Change	Percent Change
Total Nonagricultural	14,321,000	14,313,700	14,174,700	7,300	0.1	146,300	1.0
Total Private	12,175,200	12,167,300	12,048,900	7,900	0.1	126,300	1.0
Goods Producing	2,071,000	2,069,600	2,050,000	1,400	0.1	21,000	1.0
Mining and Logging	218,500	220,300	217,200	-1,800	-0.8	1,300	0.6
Construction	883,100	882,200	859,100	900	0.1	24,000	2.8
Manufacturing	969,400	967,100	973,700	2,300	0.2	-4,300	-0.4
Service Providing	12,250,000	12,244,100	12,124,700	5,900	0.0	125,300	1.0
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities	2,808,700	2,811,200	2,771,700	-2,500	-0.1	37,000	1.3
Information	224,600	225,000	228,400	-400	-0.2	-3,800	-1.7
Financial Activities	938,200	937,600	935,100	600	0.1	3,100	0.3
Professional and Business Services	2,115,000	2,111,100	2,119,000	3,900	0.2	-4,000	-0.2
Private Education and Health Services	1,985,000	1,979,300	1,941,400	5,700	0.3	43,600	2.2
Leisure and Hospitality	1,537,300	1,537,900	1,512,800	-600	0.0	24,500	1.6
Other Services	495,400	495,600	490,500	-200	0.0	4,900	1.0
Government	2,145,800	2,146,400	2,125,800	-600	0.0	20,000	0.9

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Texas Workforce Commission is a state agency dedicated to helping Texas employers, workers, families, and communities prosper economically. For details on TWC and its services in coordination with its network of local workforce development boards, call 800-628-5115 or visit https://twc.texas.gov/. Subscribe to email updates to receive notifications about TWC programs and services.