British pharmaceutical company GSK has announced plans to invest $30 billion (£22 billion) in research and manufacturing in the United States over the next five years. This initiative was revealed at the start of a visit by former US President Donald Trump to the UK. According to GSK, the funds are intended to support the development of next-generation factories, artificial intelligence (AI), and research laboratories within the US.
A portion of the investment, specifically $1.2 billion, will be directed toward the construction of a new factory in Pennsylvania focused on producing medicine for respiratory conditions and cancer, with construction scheduled to commence next year. Additionally, the investment will enhance AI and digital technology tools across GSK’s five manufacturing sites in the US, including locations in North Carolina and Maryland. The remaining funds will bolster GSK’s supply chain and drug research operations.
In a statement, GSK CEO Emma Walmsley noted that the company intends to maintain its investment in the UK manufacturing sector, committing to spend over £1.5 billion annually on research and development from that base. GSK’s investment strategy comes amid a trend of other pharmaceutical companies reducing their investments in the UK or reallocating resources to the US. These shifts have been influenced by the potential for tariffs, which could reach as high as 250% on pharmaceutical imports to the US.
Recent developments have seen significant investments paused or canceled in the UK by major drug manufacturers, with nearly £2 billion at risk this year. In parallel, US pharmaceutical firm Merck (known as MSD in Europe) recently decided to abandon its planned £1 billion research center in London, while AstraZeneca postponed a £200 million expansion of its research facilities in Cambridge.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g58x3441ko?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss