22 March 2012 -- The BioIndustry Association and bioProcessUK welcome today’s announcement that GlaxoSmithKline is to invest £500 million in manufacturing facilities in the UK, including £350 million in building a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Ulverston, Cumbria.
Glyn Edwards, BIA Interim Chief Executive, said:
“GlaxoSmithKline’s confirmation that it will build a new biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the UK is a fantastic boost for the UK’s life sciences sector. The investment recognises that the UK is one of the world’s leading locations for life sciences discovery, development and manufacturing and that recent changes to the corporate tax system make the UK an increasingly attractive place for investment. GlaxoSmithKline acknowledged that this investment is on the back of the government’s “patent box” legislation, which was first proposed in the BIA-supported Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team’s Review and Refresh of Bioscience 2015 report.”
Tony, Bradshaw, Co Director of the HealthTech and Medicines Knowledge Transfer Network, said:
“The BIA and bioProcessUK believe this is a critically important announcement that will start to capture the value of the UK’s competitive biopharmaceutical research capability. The important tax benefits provided by the patent box, and commitment to a decreasing corporation tax, will leverage this world class capability increasing investment, creating jobs and provide the UK with the opportunity to make, as well as discover, the next generation of advanced medicines in the UK.”
For further information, please contact Robert Winder, Communications Manager, 020 7630 2191; mobile 07825 942 934.
bioProcessUK
bioProcessUK, part of the HealthTech and Medicines Knowledge Transfer Network, and a division of the BioIndustry Association, was established in 2005 to harness industry capability, following a BIA Manufacturing Advisory Committee led initiative as part of the Bioscience Innovation and Growth Team’s Bioscience 2015 project, to support the growth of the biopharmaceutical development and processing sector in the UK. www.healthktn.org
BioIndustry Association
Founded over 20 years ago at the infancy of biotechnology, the BioIndustry Association (BIA) is the trade association for innovative enterprises involved in UK bioscience. Members include emerging and more established bioscience companies; pharmaceutical companies; academic, research and philanthropic organisations; and service providers to the bioscience sector. The BIA represents the interests of its members to a broad section of stakeholders, from government and regulators to patient groups and the media. Our goal is to secure the UK’s position as a global hub and as the best location for innovative research and commercialisation, enabling our world-leading research base to deliver healthcare solutions that can truly make a difference to people’s lives. For further information, please go to www.bioindustry.org
