A chorus of alarm is rising from the leaders of the life sciences industry, who are warning that the UK sector is perilously close to collapse. Citing a breakdown in relations with the government and a hostile economic environment, they are painting a bleak picture of a nation squandering one of its most significant strategic assets.
These warnings are backed by concrete actions that have already weakened the UK’s position. The withdrawal of MSD’s planned £1 billion investment was a clear signal of industry discontent. This was amplified by Eli Lilly’s decision to suspend its UK lab project and Sanofi’s move to significantly reduce its clinical trial footprint, effectively freezing new investment.
According to industry insiders, the root of the problem lies in a series of “deeply entrenched” government policies. They point to historically low spending on innovative medicines, a rigid pricing system that disincentivizes research, and a clawback tax that they argue is both excessive and unpredictable. A perceived lack of urgency from policymakers has turned frustration into despair.
The UK’s academic strength is acknowledged as a saving grace, but experts caution that it cannot prop up the sector indefinitely. The commercial ecosystem is what drives growth, and it is currently failing. The message from the industry is unequivocal: without a radical and immediate policy shift from the government, the UK’s life sciences crown will be lost for good.
