“The strategic investment is a major step to ensure all key Novartis medicines for US patients are manufactured in the US and delivered to patients across the country at scale,” it said in a statement, adding that it expects to directly create 700 jobs and 3,000 indirect ones.

The group did not put a dollar amount on the investment but said the project is part of its US$23 billion programme announced in April to increase production capacity in the United States.

Pharmaceutical companies are under massive pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump to move their production to the United States, or face tariffs.

“This announcement is a commitment to American innovation and to the patients we serve,” said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis.