Economist Podcasts Wary pharma: AstraZeneca sours on UK
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Sep 18, 2025 AstraZeneca's £200m investment pause raises eyebrows as the UK fears losing its life-science edge. The discussion highlights tax and approval challenges facing innovators. Meanwhile, the Royal Navy is exploring the future of hybrid air wings, merging manned and unmanned capabilities for strategic advantage. Plus, scientists in the Caribbean are pioneering coral restoration with innovative techniques like coral IVF to combat hurricane damage and enhance reef resilience.
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AstraZeneca's UK Frustration
- AstraZeneca is pausing a £200m Cambridge investment and weighing a US primary listing amid complaints about UK commercial and regulatory conditions.
- The firm cites high clawback taxes, tougher NICE decisions, and a stronger pull from the large US market as drivers of the shift.
US Market Pulls Pharma Investment
- The US market's scale and growth lure pharma investment away from Europe even when companies deny tariff-driven motives.
- Major firms are shifting billions into US manufacturing and R&D, shrinking the UK's share of global pharma activity.
UK Losing Life-Sciences Edge
- The UK's share of pharma R&D, drug spending and clinical trials has declined versus peers like France and Germany.
- That erosion undermines its status as a life-science hub and reduces incentives for firms to locate research here.