GSK has announced plans to establish a major new global research and development (R&D) centre in Cambridge, UK, with plans to vacate its existing R&D site in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, by 2029.
The new 300,000-square-foot R&D facility on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, one of Europe’s largest biomedical research hubs, will become home to GSK’s UK R&D operations and more than 1,000 scientists.
The new location is expected to provide GSK scientists with direct access to a world-class ecosystem of biomedical research, patient care and academia, enabling translational research by bridging laboratory science with clinical practice.
The site, currently being developed by Prologis, will feature advanced tech-enabled labs and infrastructure to support research across GSK’s key therapeutic areas, including oncology, respiratory, hepatology, vaccines and HIV.
GSK CEO Luke Miels said, “This investment will accelerate our R&D and help us deliver new, competitive products. It integrates GSK further into one of the world’s leading centres of knowledge and demonstrates the attractiveness of the UK’s life sciences ecosystem.”
Tony Wood, Chief Scientific Officer, GSK, noted that Cambridge’s established ecosystem of universities, hospitals, and biotech companies would provide exceptional opportunities for collaboration.
“With our existing connections and experience, we see this move as a catalyst for faster, bolder medicines discovery by accelerating the science that matters most for GSK’s next wave of medicines,” he said.
The Cambridge site will complement GSK’s existing partnerships with leading institutions, including the University of Oxford, King’s College London, Imperial College, the University of Manchester, Wellcome and the Crick Institute.
As part of the planned move to Cambridge, GSK will undertake a phased relocation of employees from its Stevenage R&D site, with the transition expected to be completed by 2029.
The company will also upgrade its R&D laboratories at Ware, Hertfordshire, and move some employees there to create a fully integrated drug development and commercial manufacturing scale-up capability.
Overall, the company plans to invest £400 million over the next three years in support of these changes. However, GSK’s global headquarters will remain in London.
The announcement comes alongside GSK’s strong second-quarter financial results. The company reported Q2 sales of £8.4 billion, up 5% at both actual and constant exchange rates.
Growth was driven by specialty medicines and vaccines. Specialty medicines generated £3.8 billion in sales, up 14%, with respiratory, immunology & inflammation increasing 19%, oncology 17%, and HIV 10%. Vaccines sales rose 8% to £2.3 billion, supported by growth in meningitis vaccines and Arexvy, while general medicines sales declined 9% to £2.3 billion.
Alongside the infrastructure investment, GSK also outlined plans to accelerate its late-stage development pipeline. The company currently has 62 clinical-stage assets and has identified seven assets across 18 indications in oncology, respiratory, hepatology, and vaccines for accelerated development.
To support these investments and improve operating margin, GSK is starting a three-year cost-saving programme, targeting £1.9 billion annual savings by 2029.
GSK said it invests over £6 billion in R&D every year, with over £1.5 billion of that invested in the UK.
