Merck to scrap London drug research centre
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on September 10, 2025
Global Banking and Finance Review is an online platform offering news, analysis, and opinion on the latest trends, developments, and innovations in the banking and finance industry worldwide. The platform covers a diverse range of topics, including banking, insurance, investment, wealth management, fintech, and regulatory issues. The website publishes news, press releases, opinion and advertorials on various financial organizations, products and services which are commissioned from various Companies, Organizations, PR agencies, Bloggers etc. These commissioned articles are commercial in nature. This is not to be considered as financial advice and should be considered only for information purposes. It does not reflect the views or opinion of our website and is not to be considered an endorsement or a recommendation. We cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of any information provided with respect to your individual or personal circumstances. Please seek Professional advice from a qualified professional before making any financial decisions. We link to various third-party websites, affiliate sales networks, and to our advertising partners websites. When you view or click on certain links available on our articles, our partners may compensate us for displaying the content to you or make a purchase or fill a form. This will not incur any additional charges to you. To make things simpler for you to identity or distinguish advertised or sponsored articles or links, you may consider all articles or links hosted on our site as a commercial article placement. We will not be responsible for any loss you may suffer as a result of any omission or inaccuracy on the website.
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on September 10, 2025
(Reuters) - Merck said on Wednesday it was scrapping research operations in London, citing the UK's challenging business environment, and would relocate the research activity to existing sites primarily in the United States.
The U.S. drugmaker no longer plans to occupy the Belgrove House site at King's Cross, which was due to open in 2027. The move will impact about 125 staff members.
Pharmaceutical companies have been shoring up investments in the U.S. amid the Trump administration's tariff threats and pressure to move more manufacturing to the U.S.
Merck said its decision "reflects the challenges of the UK not making meaningful progress towards addressing the lack of investment in the life science industry and the overall undervaluation of innovative medicines and vaccines by successive UK governments."
The company intends to also vacate laboratories occupied at the London Bioscience Innovation Centre and the Francis Crick Institute by the end of 2025.
Merck earlier this year announced a series of major U.S. investments, including a $1-billion facility in Delaware to produce biologics and its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda, which is expected to create over 4,500 jobs.
The plant is slated to be operational by 2028, with experimental drug production starting by 2030.
Merck also opened a $1-billion facility at its North Carolina site in March.
The company's animal health unit will also invest $895 million to expand its Kansas manufacturing and R&D site, part of a broader $9 billion U.S. investment through 2028.
(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in New York; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Shailesh Kuber)