Britain’s ambition to become a global science powerhouse has suffered a major setback after Merck, known in Europe as MSD, abandoned plans for a £1 billion research hub in London.
About 125 scientists will lose their jobs as the US drugmaker closes laboratories near King’s Cross and at the Francis Crick Institute by the end of 2025.
The Belgrove House project, already under construction, was meant to employ 800 people and showcase long-term investment in UK life sciences.
Instead, MSD said it will discontinue discovery work in Britain, citing years of weak support for innovative medicines.
Industry leaders warned the retreat underscored declining pharmaceutical investment, with the UK slipping in global rankings for both research funding and clinical trials.