Eisai’s Hatfield plant will be the first time that a Japanese pharmaceutical company has opened a manufacturing facility in the UK. Former British Trade Minister Ian Pearson said both decisions demonstrated the UK’s attractiveness as a location for pharmaceutical and biotech companies. “These two significant investments reinforce the UK’s position as having the largest biotech sector in Europe. Both the Amgen and Eisai investments show that our research and development capability is truly world class.” Amgen’s expansion would almost double its R&D capacity in the UK. “The decision confirms the UK as a major worldwide scientific hub for Amgen,” said Dr Jeremy Haigh for the company. The new site in Uxbridge can accommodate more than 300 additional staff and forms a key part of R&D expansion that is required to meet the needs of its product pipeline in areas such as cancer, bone health and inflammation. The UK initiative is part of a wider programme globally, adding to existing facilities in Cambridge along with a US$1 billion investment in Ireland that will create more than 1,000 jobs.

In relation to Eisai, East of England International (EEI) – the official international business support agency for the region – worked closely with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) to secure the investment. Launched in April 2005, the EEI delivers UKTI services to regional businesses wanting to trade internationally as well as to overseas-owned companies who are looking towards establishing a presence or expanding in the UK. The announcement underlines Eisai’s recognition of the region’s outstanding pharmaceutical and biotech strengths, both in research and manufacturing. By locating in Hertfordshire, Eisai will be at the heart of Europe’s leading life-sciences cluster. This includes such international centres of excellence as the Babraham Institute and the Sanger Centre represented by networking organisations such as the Eastern Region Biotechnology Initiative. The area has the UK’s highest regional expenditure in R&D and the largest concentration of R&D engineers per head of the population. It is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, both in terms of population and economy. Amgen said its biotechnology medicines have improved the lives of more than nine million patients worldwide suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses. It has about 50 product candidates in development. The expanded UK operation will coordinate vital development programmes for these promising candidates across Europe, bringing new hope to patients globally.

 

Dr Jeremy Haigh, Amgen’s European Head of R&D, said: “This expansion will almost double our current UK-based R&D capacity, creating new job opportunities in all aspects of drug development including clinical research, bio statistics, regulatory affairs, safety, data and project management, as well as in key support functions.” Amgen’s announcement echoes the Government’s recent commitment to attract more R&D investment with the aim of making the UK a world leader in biotechnology. UK Science & Innovation Minister Lord Sainsbury said: “This move will further strengthen London and Cambridge’s world-leading capabilities for biopharma research and development. It reflects the efforts made by the Government to provide a UK environment which offers commercial stability and fair and efficient regulation. I am very confident that Amgen will find the UK science and skills base capable of delivering the kind of cutting-edge research that biotech companies thrive on to help deliver pioneering products.” Amgen employs 16,000 staff worldwide, 1,900 in Europe and some 510 in the UK. The total revenue for 2004 was £6 billion. Commenting on why the UK has been chosen for such a critical role, Dr Haigh highlighted access to exceptional talent and good communications as key drivers, adding: “The UK has the scientific talent and capabilities which Amgen needs. Uxbridge is located in the heart of the biopharmaceutical community to the west of London and has excellent links with California where our headquarters are based.” He continued that Cambridge has a long-standing commitment to science and remains one of Europe’s most important biotechnology clusters: “Amgen has had a presence in Cambridge for 15 years where we have continued to expand, recruiting more than 100 people there in the last 12 months alone.”