US pharmaceutical giant Merck, known as MSD in Europe, is canceling its planned £1 billion expansion in the UK, citing insufficient government investment in the life sciences sector. This decision will result in 125 job losses and the relocation of research to the US.

• Merck's decision to scrap its £1 billion expansion follows similar moves by other pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca and Novartis, who have also reduced or abandoned UK investment plans.
• According to emeritus regius professor of medicine Sir John Bell, UK's spending on pharmaceuticals has dropped to 9% of healthcare expenditure, compared to OECD's 14-20%, making the country less attractive for drug sales.
• The chief executive of Relation Therapeutics, Dr. David Roblin, highlights that while the UK's academic and research environment remains strong, the changing political landscape in the US, particularly threats of high tariffs by President Donald Trump, is influencing pharmaceutical companies' investment strategies.