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Pharmaceutical industry

Britain's Biotech Boom: New Investments Create Hundreds of Jobs

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Britain's reputation as a leading centre for pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development has been reinforced with the announcements of two major investments by Eisai and Amgen. The Japanese pharmaceutical company is building a £75m research and manufacturing centre in Hertfordshire, which will create 500 jobs, while the US biotech company is expanding its facility in Cambridge and building a European development centre at Uxbridge. In stark contrast, computer printing company Lexmark has announced plans to close its ink jet manufacturing plant in Scotland, resulting in the loss of 500 jobs.

Key Takeaways:

  • Eisai, a top 20 pharmaceutical company, is investing £75m in a research and manufacturing centre in Hertfordshire, creating 500 jobs.
  • Amgen is expanding its facility in Cambridge and building a European development centre at Uxbridge, almost doubling its research and development capacity in the UK.
  • The UK initiative is part of a wider programme in Europe and the US, including a $1bn investment in Ireland, creating over 1,000 jobs.
  • Lexmark is closing its ink jet manufacturing plant in Scotland, resulting in the loss of 500 jobs in April and another 200 when the plant finally shuts down at the end of the year.
  • The Amgen and Eisai decisions demonstrate Britain's attractiveness as a location for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, according to Trade Minister Ian Pearson.
  • Alan Spiers, General Manager of Lexmark, blamed high production and maintenance costs for the decision to close the Rosyth factory.

Statistics:

  • 800 jobs will be created by the Eisai and Amgen investments.
  • 500 jobs will be lost at the Lexmark plant in Scotland.
  • £75m is the investment being made by Eisai in its new research and manufacturing centre.
  • The UK is expected to benefit from a regional investment of over $1bn in Europe and the US, creating 1,000 jobs.
  • Amgen's expansion in the UK will almost double its research and development capacity.

Sources:

  • Byline: Mark Milner, Industrial editor Britain's reputation as a centre for pharmaceutical and biotechnology research and development was underlined yesterday as two of the world's leading companies announced investment plans which will create more than 800 jobs. (Source: Britain's byline, date not specified)
  • [EA] Eisai, a top 20 pharmaceutical company, already has a research and development facility at University College London.
  • [Jeremy Haigh] The decision confirms the UK as a major worldwide scientific hub for Amgen. (Source: Jeremy Haigh, Amgen, 2004 not specified)
  • [Lexmark] The decision to close the Rosyth factory was made due to high production and maintenance costs. (Source: Alan Spiers, General Manager of Lexmark, 2004 not specified)
  • [Trade Minister Ian Pearson] These two significant investments reinforce the UK's position as having the largest biotech sector in Europe. (Source: Trade Minister Ian Pearson, 2004 not specified)
  • [Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling] The government and the Scottish executive will do everything they can to help those who have lost their jobs. (Source: Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling, 2004 not specified)

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