Written question asked by Andrew Miller (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 February 2011, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 4 February 2011. It was answered by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Friday, 4 February 2011 on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Pfizer

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate his Department has made of the effects on the pharmaceutical industry in the UK of the decision by Pfizer to close its site in Kent

Answer: It is too early to be able to judge the full impact of the closure of the site on the pharmaceutical industry in the UK.Pfizer's decision should be seen in the context of major restructuring in the pharmaceutical sector which is moving from large in-house R and D operations to smaller specialist R and D sites and greater collaboration with drug discovery and development companies and academic research units, and is not a reflection on the UK R and D environment. The UK retains world class activity including Pfizer's Regenerative Medicine Unit in Cambridge.

Secondary information