With the establishment of the international pharmaceutical company Novartis in Halle (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt is further cementing its position as a hub for innovation in cutting-edge medicine. The company is building a state-of-the-art production facility here for radioligand therapies (RLT)—a key technology in modern cancer treatment. The investment not only strengthens medical care and research in Germany but also represents a clear commitment to Saxony-Anhalt as a business location.
Sven Schulze, Minister for Economic Affairs, Tourism, Agriculture, and Forestry of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, commented on the location decision on Monday afternoon: “This investment underscores our state’s potential as a high-performing hub for future-oriented industries. Research, industry, and patient care are perfectly intertwined here—creating jobs, economic value, and opportunities. We are proud that Novartis has chosen Saxony-Anhalt. This not only strengthens our healthcare sector but also boosts confidence in our state’s capacity for innovation.”
By choosing Halle (Saale), Novartis is sending a strong signal regarding the development of sustainable production capacities in Germany. The new facility will initially include a semi-automated production line for radioligand therapies and offers expansion possibilities for future manufacturing steps. Thanks to its convenient location near Leipzig/Halle Airport and in close proximity to leading nuclear medicine centers in Central Germany and Berlin, optimal logistical conditions are in place.
Tino Sorge, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health, also emphasized the significance of the investment: “In the future, Saxony-Anhalt will be at the forefront of the fight against cancer. We can be proud of that. Today is a ray of hope for our healthcare system and research. The big winners are the patients. Business, science, and politics are pulling together. As the federal government, we also want to strengthen our healthcare sector sustainably, as it faces fierce international competition. Investments like this play a crucial role in ensuring that excellence in medical research and care emanates from Germany.”
Radioligand therapy is considered a milestone in personalized oncology. It combines radioactive isotopes with targeted ligands that precisely locate and destroy cancer cells while largely sparing healthy tissue. Novartis is currently the only company with two radioligand therapies approved in Germany for the treatment of advanced cancers. Globally, the company is working to expand this technology to other types of cancer, such as breast, colorectal, lung, and pancreatic cancer.
“Germany has well-established structures and excellent expertise in the field of radioligand therapy—a clear locational advantage in a highly innovative field,” emphasized Manfred Heinzer, Chairman of the Executive Board of Novartis Germany. “To ensure that this lead continues to benefit patients in the future, we need stable, innovation-friendly conditions. Novartis’s investment in this location makes it clear: where innovations are valued and specifically promoted, investments, value creation, and progress follow—to the benefit of the business location and the care of seriously ill people in Germany.”
With Novartis’ investment, Saxony-Anhalt is strengthening its profile as a region of the future for the life sciences. With its close network of science, business, and healthcare, the state offers ideal conditions for investment in research-intensive industries. The successful collaboration between companies, universities, and public institutions helps ensure that innovations emerge in Saxony-Anhalt that have a global impact.
Dr. Alexander Vogt, Mayor of the City of Halle (Saale), said: “Novartis’s decision to locate here shows that the city is highly attractive to investors. Not least, competent contacts, short communication channels, and quick decision-making convinced Novartis to come to Halle. We are proud of that. The Novartis facility strengthens the region as a technology hub, provides impetus for further investments, and, above all, makes it clear that Halle (Saale) is once again living up to its excellent reputation as a center for science and research in southern Saxony-Anhalt, the Central German Metropolitan Region, and beyond.”
With the new production site in Halle (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt is further coming into the spotlight of the international healthcare industry. The project combines economic strength with social responsibility—and demonstrates how research translates into progress in Saxony-Anhalt.
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