British drugmaker GSK has pledged to invest $30bn (£22bn) in research and manufacturing in the United States over the next five years, in a move that underscores the mounting challenges facing the UK’s pharmaceutical industry.
The announcement was made as US President Donald Trump began his state visit to the UK. GSK said the money would fund next-generation factories, AI tools, and advanced research labs across its American operations.
Major New Factory Planned
Of the $30bn package, $1.2bn will go towards building a new facility in Pennsylvania to produce medicines targeting respiratory diseases and cancer, with construction due to begin next year.
Other funds will be used to expand GSK’s five US manufacturing sites — including plants in North Carolina and Maryland — with new digital and artificial intelligence systems to boost production and efficiency.
The rest of the investment will strengthen the company’s American supply chain and research programmes.
Chief executive Emma Walmsley said GSK remained committed to the UK, where it spends over £1.5bn a year on research and development. “We will continue to invest in our UK base, but this expansion reflects the opportunities we see in the US market,” she said.
Political Reaction
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the announcement as “a powerful example of collaboration between our two countries” and said the investment would create jobs while accelerating drug development.
The Trump administration has been pushing for more pharmaceutical production to be based in the US and has threatened tariffs of up to 250% on imports. Industry analysts say this pressure is a significant factor in the shift of investment away from Britain.
UK Loses Out
GSK’s move is the latest in a series of setbacks for the UK pharmaceutical sector. Last week, US drug giant Merck, known as MSD in Europe, scrapped plans for a £1bn research centre in London. Days later, AstraZeneca halted a planned £200m expansion of its research facilities in Cambridge.
Together, drugmakers have paused or cancelled nearly £2bn of planned investment in Britain so far this year, raising concerns about the long-term health of one of the country’s key high-value industries.
A Deepening Divide
The developments highlight a growing imbalance: while the US is attracting record levels of pharma investment, UK projects are increasingly being scaled back or shelved. Analysts warn that unless Britain offers greater incentives, more firms could follow GSK in prioritising American growth.
For now, GSK insists it will maintain a strong presence in Britain. But with global competition intensifying, the latest pledge suggests the gravitational pull of the US market is only getting stronger.
