AstraZeneca Pauses £200m Cambridge Expansion Amid Wider UK Pharma Struggles

AstraZeneca has halted a £200m expansion at its Cambridge research site, stalling the entire £650m UK investment package.
The project was expected to create 1,000 jobs, but the company confirmed the expansion is now paused without further comment.
Earlier this year, AstraZeneca scrapped a £450m plan for its vaccine facility in Merseyside, citing reduced government support.
While pausing UK investments, the drugmaker pledged $50bn in the US by 2030, including new facilities and lab expansions.
The move follows other setbacks: Merck canceled a £1bn London research centre, cutting 125 jobs, and Eli Lilly froze a £279m project.
Sanofi also warned it would halt major UK investments without Treasury reforms to make life sciences internationally competitive.
Industry leaders argue the NHS spends too little on medicines and criticize the 23% clawback rate imposed on drugmakers’ revenues.
Concerns grew after talks with the health secretary broke down, with officials considering reopening negotiations to keep investment in Britain.