GSK has announced plans to establish a major new global R&D centre in Cambridge, UK, as part of the company’s plan to accelerate its R&D pipeline.  

The new 300,000 square foot site, on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus in the heart of the UK’s life sciences “Golden Triangle,” will be home to GSK’s R&D operations in the UK and more than 1,000 GSK scientists. 

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus is one of the largest biomedical campuses in Europe. The company says the new location will 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 GSK site will feature tech-enabled labs and infrastructure to support research in the company’s focus areas of Oncology, Respiratory, Hepatology, Vaccines and HIV. 

The Cambridge Biomedical Campus is home to more than 22,000 people working in life sciences, with more than 37,000 people visiting every day. More than one million patients are treated on the campus every year, and over 470 biopharma/biotech and AI companies are located there. 

Luke Miels, Chief Executive Officer, GSK, 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.” 

As a result of the planned move to Cambridge, GSK will vacate its R&D site at Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with a phased move for employees by 2029.  

GSK will also upgrade its existing R&D laboratories at Ware in 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 ($531.7) million in the region over three years.