UK Biotechnology Market

The United Kingdom (UK) has established itself as the European market leader in the biotechnology industry and remains the second largest in the world market, after the United States. Its leading position in biotechnology is based on a long-established reputation for excellence in research in the biosciences in its universities, teaching hospitals and research institutes. The primary strengths of the industry include therapeutics and human health applications with a particular emphasis on genomics and gene therapy, stem cell research, and drug discovery. In 2002, the UK Parliament voted to allow therapeutic cloning and end a ban on stem cell research using human embryos. As a result, additional funding to support research is expected from both government and private sources and the UK is now positioned to lead the world in stem cell research. The UK pharmaceutical industry is also the fourth largest in the world, accounting for 12% of the world market.

Even though government support for biotechnology is strong in the UK, particularly at the university level, the industry still relies on venture capital and partnerships for growth and development. Despite an economic downturn in other industries, and few initial public offerings, the UK biotechnology industry attracts the attention of both foreign and domestic investors. One reason for the continued success of biotechnology companies in the UK is the long pipeline of products under development. UK companies have more products at various clinical stages than any other country in Europe and the UK has also been responsible for key breakthroughs in health research, such as monoclonal antibody production and DNA fingerprinting.

Biotechnology in the UK is characterised by strong multinational corporations and a vibrant SME sector reliant on mergers and partnerships. Key multinationals active in the market include GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Novartis, Merck & Co., Aventis and Bayer. There are numerous world-renowned research institutions and academic training facilities throughout the country, as well as technology parks to cluster the industry and encourage collaboration. Biotechnology clusters, such as York Bioscience, have become essential to industry growth and strengthen the industry by combining expertise. The clusters are located around academic centres of excellence, which contribute spin-off companies as well as valuable preliminary research and trained scientists to the business community.

Since the UK is a member of the European Union, biotechnology drugs and human health products seeking access to the UK market should be approved by the European Medicines Evaluation Agency. The UK is also bound by EU regulations on the approval and release of genetically modified (GM) crops.

Further Sources of Information

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) websiteprovides more market information on the UK pharmaceutical industry and lists key pharmaceutical companies and their contact details.

www.abpi.org.uk

The BioIndustry Association (BIA) is the trade association for innovative enterprises in the UK's bioscience sector. Their website provides information about innovative bioscience companies as well as industry publications and events.

www.bioindustry.org

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is the UK’s principal funder of biological research.

www.bbsrc.ac.uk