UK ‘difficult’ operating environment says Merck boss after £1bn London site axed

Merck blamed the Government for paying too little for medicines (Alamy/PA) -

The UK boss of drugs giant Merck has said the UK operating environment for pharmaceutical firms is “difficult” and “needs to be addressed”, a week after it axed plans for a £1 billion site in London.

Ben Lucas, VP managing director UK and Ireland for MSD, Merck’s business in the UK and Europe, told MPs at the science, innovation and technology committee that its “ability to do end-to-end business” in the UK contributed to its decision.