GSK plots £400m Cambridge research hub in push for cancer breakthrough
GSK plots £400m Cambridge research hub in push for cancer breakthrough
Emma TaggartTue, July 28, 2026 at 2:03 PM UTC
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GSK plans to acquire a new 300,000 sq ft site on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus - GSK
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will invest £400m in a major new science hub in Cambridge as part of plans to pour more money into developing new cancer drugs.
The pharmaceuticals giant said it planned to acquire a new 300,000 sq ft site on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, which will house most of its research and development (R&D).
The new centre of excellence will employ more than 1,000 scientists, GSK said, with its researchers developing new vaccines, HIV treatments and cancer drugs.
However, the move will also end the FTSE 100 company’s 50-year relationship with Stevenage, Hertfordshire, which was previously its main UK research base. Some Stevenage staff will be asked to relocate to another lab in nearby Ware.
The investment in Cambridge comes as GSK seeks to ramp up its pipeline of medicines under Luke Miels, its new chief executive, who took on the role from Dame Emma Walmsley at the start of the year.
The company has been accelerating investment in cancer drugs after it acquired US-based Nuvalent in June for nearly £8bn.
GSK won approval from US medical regulators last week for Jideytro, a lung cancer treatment secured as part of the takeover of Nuvalent.
The decision to open a new Cambridge campus will bolster the Government’s efforts to turn the 100-mile corridor between Oxford and Cambridge into an economic powerhouse.
The new GSK centre of excellence will employ more than 1,000 scientists - GSK
GSK said the investment would build its presence “in the heart of the UK’s life sciences ‘Golden Triangle’” – made up of Oxford, Cambridge and London.
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Earlier this year, Rachel Reeves, the former chancellor, set out Labour’s ambition to turn the area into a hub for science businesses, building new homes and transport links to create Europe’s “Silicon Valley”.
The Cambridge Biomedical Campus already employs more than 22,000 people and hosts treatments for one million patients each year. GSK hopes to build its links with research hospitals in Cambridge and benefit from proximity to the University of Cambridge.
Mr Miels said: “This investment will accelerate our R&D and help us deliver new, competitive products.”
On Tuesday, GSK also announced plans for a major cost-cutting drive aimed at saving £1.9bn by 2029 to fund the development of new drugs. The savings are expected to include job cuts around the world, including reducing some back-office roles.
Alongside the plans for a new Cambridge site, GSK said it had launched 20 phase three trials as part of its plans to expand its pipeline of treatments.
These trials are the final stage of clinical testing before a drug is submitted to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for approval.
Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, said the £400m investment was “a vote of confidence in British business”.
Life science is one of eight sectors that form part of the Government’s modern industrial strategy.
The investment from GSK comes after its rival AstraZeneca announced that it would pour £200m into its Cambridge site, along with £100m for a project in Macclesfield, Cheshire.
GSK’s relocation to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus means Britain’s two largest pharmaceutical companies will neighbour each other in the city. GSK said it would keep its global headquarters in London.
Source: “AOL Money”
