The UK government, in collaboration with leading global firm Kindeva Drug Delivery, has pledged £33 million to support the manufacturing of green, low-carbon respiratory inhalers in the country. This joint investment aims to create a new generation of eco-friendly inhalers, stimulating economic growth and job creation.
The funding will generate 40 full-time positions and safeguard 218 existing jobs across Kindeva’s sites in Clitheroe and Loughborough.
This initiative marks the sixth investment facilitated by the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) and its predecessor, the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund.
Over the last financial year, these funds have provided a total of £340 million in government and industry support to UK life sciences manufacturing. Since 2021, the investment has reached £416 million.
The government’s commitment to the thriving life sciences sector aligns with the Prime Minister’s priorities of boosting the economy and creating well-paid jobs nationwide.
This latest funding follows the Chancellor’s announcement in May of a £650 million “Life Sci for Growth” initiative, aimed at revitalizing the UK’s life sciences sector. The government aims to achieve this through regulatory reforms, increased investment, and the development of talent and skills.
George Freeman MP, Minister of State for Science, Research & Innovation, emphasized the significance of the life sciences industry, which generates over £94 billion and provides more than 250,000 high-skilled research and development jobs across the UK.
Freeman highlighted the sector’s contributions to improving public health and attracting substantial investment into the country, exemplified by the Oxford Covid vaccine and NHS Recovery trial.
Health Minister Will Quince underscored the importance of domestic manufacturing and upskilling in response to health emergencies, as demonstrated during the pandemic. The investment in low-carbon inhalers will also contribute to the NHS’s net-zero ambition, aligning with environmental sustainability goals.
The LSIMF builds on the success of the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund pilot program, which launched in April 2021. The pilot program delivered £75 million in joint government and industry investment, creating 224 new jobs and protecting 345 existing roles.
Kindeva Drug Delivery, a prominent global contract development and manufacturing organization specializing in pharmaceutical drug-device combination products, will benefit from this joint investment.
David Stevens, Kindeva’s Global Chief Commercial Officer, expressed enthusiasm for the opportunities it will provide, including the expansion of capabilities and capacity.
Stevens also emphasized the collaboration with leading pharmaceutical companies to bring green inhalers to market, ensuring access to necessary therapies while reducing the impact on the environment.
The government’s Life Sciences Vision, published in 2021, aims to establish a globally competitive environment for life science manufacturing investments.
This vision capitalizes on the UK’s strengths in manufacturing R&D, innovation centers, and the sector’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also aligns with the UK Science and Technology Framework’s focus on critical technologies that drive advancements in health and life sciences, as well as plans to enhance the regulatory landscape for the sector.
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