ELI Lilly has re-affirmed its belief in the UK’s strength in pharmaceuticals innovation and R&D with plans to spend £220m ($350m) to boost its pharmaceuticals research and production in the country.
The company will spend $72m to expand its Liverpool biotechnology production plant, which produces the human growth hormone replacement Humatrope. Lilly will also be setting up a research group for neuroscience in south-east England. The European Centre for Neuroscience will be based at its existing R&D site at Erl Wood in Surrey and will create at least 120 new jobs for scientists over the next five years, Lilly says. Other investments include $112 to improve manufacturing at Basingstoke and $24m in UK business support.
"This is the largest single investment by Lilly in any country in Europe,
and it obviously shows that we feel the UK offers a positive business environment
that fosters pharmaceutical company growth and innovation," said Rich Pilnik,
president of Lilly’s European operations, in a statement.
"Lilly’s decision is an acknowledgment of the UK’s reputation as Europe’s
top location for pharmaceutical and bioscience investment. The UK delivers the
right business environment and skills for international science and technology
businesses to thrive," said Alastair Newton, director of Invest.UK USA.
Lilly employs some 3000 people in the UK, or 7% of its workforce. The Erl Wood laboratories are Lilly’s largest research facility for new drugs outside the US. Its current bestselling drug, the schizophrenia treatment Zyprexa, was discovered by three researchers at Erl Wood.