Work begins on Eisai’s Knowledge Centre
pharmafile | March 7, 2007 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing |
Eisai is a step nearer to getting its £100 million European base up and running after it broke ground at the Hatfield, Hertfordshire, site.
The facility will eventually house a European headquarters, drug discovery, clinical development and manufacturing as well as UK sales and marketing operations.
At a time when other pharma companies are cutting back, Eisai's investment will create more than 500 jobs, including some 300 new jobs in R&D and manufacturing, at its European Knowledge Centre.
Managing director of Eisai UK Dr Paul Hooper admitted the company was bucking the trend, but said the UK had a reputation for stability, technical expertise and a great regulatory environment.
"There is a great trust in the UK to be able to deliver a quality and efficient operation and that is important," he added.
Construction on the new site will begin later this month, with European production and research facilities the first to come on-line in 2008.
Chief executive Haruo Naito said: "Eisai believes that integrating all company functions on a single site will improve quality, efficiency and productivity.
The creation of such a seamless value chain is the principle at the heart of our decision to bring together our European operations on a single site in the UK."
Also attending the ground-breaking ceremony was minister of state for quality at the Department of Health Lord Hunt, who said the NHS depended on the UK having a strong pharmaceutical industry.
"One of the major strengths of having a successful, research-based industry in the UK is that patients here can be the first to benefit through involvement in clinical trials, and then by early access to cost effective innovative medicines," he said.
