GlaxoSmithKline head Andrew Witty appeared on Sky News' Jeff Randall Live yesterday and explained that Pfizer's decision to close a major research plant in Kent has nothing to do with the U.K.'s business climate and that his company is "committed to Britain."
"I don't think the decision had anything to do with the UK environment and had everything to with the industry environment which is under a lot of pressure," he said.
He reminded viewers that GSK has promised to build its next biopharmaceutical facility--an investment estimated at £500 million--in Britain, as well as an environmentally friendly green research facility. In addition, the company is committed to creating a £50 million venture capital fund "solely focused on supporting British biopharmaceutical start-ups."
Meanwhile, a task force has been set up in Kent in the wake of Pfizer's decision and will meet next week. It is set to look at the "wide-ranging and innovative solutions" being developed to deal with the decision, Insider Media reports. "It is extremely disappointing that Pfizer has decided to end its research and development activity at its site in Sandwich," said Vince Cable, secretary of state for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), in a statement. "The company has been clear that this decision was part of its global programme of change and not based on a judgement of the UK as a location for pharmaceutical research."
The Pfizer closure announcement comes with the disclosure of research budget cuts that scientists say could risk a "domino effect" in the U.K.--especially in light of the company's pronouncement. Universities have been given details of £940m cuts, including a 66 percent cut in the science capital budget, the BBC reports.
"We recognise that during this period of ongoing economic stringency that universities should bear their fair share of cuts," says Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group of universities, in a statement. "But in the same week as UK R&D has been hit by the closure of the Pfizer facility in Kent, these new cuts will make it even harder for our top universities and researchers to lead the economic recovery. Many of our competitors are pumping billions into research and higher education, and our leading universities are already under-resourced in comparison with our international competitors. Maintaining the quality of the England's world-class universities is essential if the country is to work and think its way back to economic growth."
- get the BIS statement
- see the Russell Group announcement
- read the Sky News report (features segment of interview)
- see the BBC story
- get more from Insider Media