Точка Синхронізації

AstraZeneca Chief Executive Pascal Soriot announced during a media briefing in London on February 10, 2026, that while he welcomes the UK government's recent drug pricing agreement, the company will maintain its pause on a planned £200 million investment in its Cambridge expansion due to ongoing concerns over the UK's industrial competitiveness. The decision follows a period of tension between the pharmaceutical industry and the National Health Service (NHS) regarding the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing, Access, and Growth (VPAG). Soriot indicated that while the new pricing deal is a step in the right direction, it is currently insufficient to justify the immediate revival of the major infrastructure project. The investment freeze centers on a proposed state-of-the-art expansion of AstraZeneca’s global research and development headquarters in Cambridge. Soriot emphasized that the British pharmaceutical landscape still faces significant challenges compared to international markets, particularly the United States. He noted that for the UK to become a truly attractive destination for high-level manufacturing and clinical trials, the government must go beyond pricing adjustments and address broader structural issues, including research incentives and the speed of regulatory approvals within the NHS framework. Industry analysts view this move as a strategic signal to the UK government, suggesting that the life sciences sector requires more than just fiscal concessions to remain committed to British soil. AstraZeneca, which remains the UK's most valuable pharmaceutical firm, has been increasingly vocal about the disparity in investment returns between the UK and more lucrative markets abroad. While the CEO praised the collaborative spirit of the recent negotiations, the continued suspension of the £200 million injection serves as a reminder of the delicate balance the government must strike between controlling drug costs and fostering a robust domestic biotech ecosystem.