Major pharma firm scraps £1bn UK expansion

American pharmaceutical giant MSD has canceled a planned £1bn expansion in the UK, citing government underinvestment in the sector as the reason. This move will result in over 100 UK job cuts as MSD shifts its life sciences research to the US. This decision reflects a trend of pharmaceutical companies reducing investment plans in the UK, with AstraZeneca and Novartis also scaling back due to similar concerns. The industry has been lobbying for better conditions amidst pressure from US President Donald Trump to lower drug prices and invest more in the US market.