Merck will not build its planned 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 US pharmaceutical company 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, Reuters reported. The US plant is slated to be operational by 2028, with experimental drug production starting by 2030.
In March, Merck also opened a $1 billion vaccine facility in Durham, NC. 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.
This isn’t the only pharma giant who has brought manufacturing back to or investing more into the US. Amgen announced last week that it is putting $600M into a new R&D center in Thousand Oaks, CA, where it is headquartered.
As well, Johnson & Johnson, AbbVie, AstraZenica, Lilly, and Novartis have all poured millions into US manufacturing this year.