Amgen unveils £100m clinical research hub

We chose London because of its excellent reputation for clinical research and pool of highly qualified and talented scientists.

Willard Dere
Senior vice president
Amgen

By Anna Rooke, OurWorld Editor

Amgen has opened its new European Development Centre in Uxbridge, London.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair opened the centre, which will accommodate more than 300 new staff.

The new facility, together with Amgen's other UK facility in Cambridge, will support the company's largest ever international clinical trial programme.

Why London?

“Uxbridge represents Amgen's largest R&D investment outside the United States,” said Amgen's senior vice president and international chief medical officer, Willard Dere.

“This investment confirms the UK's position as a major worldwide scientific hub for the company.”

“We chose London because of its excellent reputation for clinical research and pool of highly qualified and talented scientists.”

UK makes “big push” for biotech

Tony Blair said that “now is the moment for a big push” in improving the environment for the UK biotech industry.

“To allow the biotech industry to get some strength in research out of the NHS is something we need to look at in this country.”

Support for growing firms

The Prime Minister unveiled a top-level study to be chaired by Sir David Cooksey, the venture capitalist, examining issues such as how to increase funding and other incentives from the government and the City so that “smaller companies can grow into larger companies”.

Blair also added that he believes that the industry and Government have curbed the actions of animal rights extremists, and underlined his support for stem cell research.