AstraZeneca Halts £200m Cambridge Expansion Amid UK Pharma Setbacks

AstraZeneca has paused a £200m expansion of its Cambridge research site, part of a £650m UK investment plan.
The move follows January’s cancellation of a £450m vaccine facility in Merseyside after government support was cut.
The Cambridge project was expected to create 1,000 jobs but is now on hold with no timeline for resumption.
The company confirmed it was reassessing investment priorities, declining further comment on the decision.
In contrast, AstraZeneca pledged $50bn US investment by 2030, including a new Virginia plant and lab expansions.
The UK pharmaceutical sector faces a turbulent week with multiple firms scaling back projects.
Merck scrapped a £1bn London research centre, cutting 125 jobs, despite construction already being underway.
Eli Lilly put its £279m London gateway lab on hold, adding to the uncertainty.
Sanofi’s UK head warned Britain lacked a competitive life sciences plan, freezing potential investments.
Prominent scientist Sir John Bell cautioned that big pharmaceutical firms were withdrawing further UK commitments.
The industry argues NHS medicine spending must rise to match international levels.
Talks over pricing between the sector and the government broke down in August, with negotiations likely to reopen.
Drugmakers want the NHS clawback rate cut from nearly 23% to single digits, closer to European standards.