The UK government is investing more than £74 million to back pioneering life sciences projects that could transform healthcare, drive economic growth, and cement Britain’s position as a global hub for innovation.
Announced as part of London Life Sciences Week, the funding will support a range of initiatives—from using AI and robotics to make medicine manufacturing more efficient, to recycling spent nuclear fuel into next-generation cancer therapies. The investment includes over £54 million through the Sustainable Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Programme, jointly funded by government and industry, with a further £20 million in additional private backing.
The projects aim to make medicines production greener and more efficient. Initiatives include recycling anaesthetic gas to save the NHS around £5 million annually, cutting waste in factories, and applying advanced robotics and AI to streamline production.
Meanwhile, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) will receive nearly £1 million from the Engineering Biology Sandbox Fund to tackle regulatory challenges around engineered bacteriophage products—viruses designed to target antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This work, delivered in partnership with the UK Health Security Agency and other regulatory bodies, will ensure life-saving innovations can reach patients safely.
Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said:
“The life sciences sector turns over £150 billion a year, supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, and drives investment. We are backing Britain’s innovators to find new ways to improve and save lives while contributing to national renewal.”
Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle added:
“We are determined to make the UK a life sciences superpower. Today’s funding shows our commitment to backing bold ideas that create jobs, attract world-class investment, and deliver breakthroughs in healthcare.”
Health and Innovation Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed highlighted the sector’s role in patient care:
“From innovative cancer treatments to tackling antimicrobial resistance, combining the ingenuity of our scientists with the NHS allows us to deliver world-leading health services.”
The funding is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the UK’s life sciences ecosystem. Highlights include the Barts Life Sciences Cluster, which is expected to attract over £800 million in investment, and a €30 million commitment from the British Business Bank to Sofinnova’s €637 million pan-European venture capital fund. London-based life sciences companies have already attracted £1.6 billion in venture capital in 2025, more than triple the amount raised by Paris, underscoring the UK’s position as Europe’s leading destination for life sciences investment.
The sector supports over 300,000 jobs across the country and is central to the government’s Industrial Strategy. Recent successes include BioNTech’s £1 billion UK investment, GSK-Oxford Cancer Immuno-Prevention Programme, and Moderna’s new Innovation and Technology Centre in Oxfordshire.
Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean said:
“By championing rigorous research and collaboration, we can unlock innovations in fields like engineering biology to address society’s most pressing health challenges.”
MHRA Chief Executive Lawrence Tallon stressed the importance of regulatory clarity:
“Innovative solutions like engineered bacteriophages can help combat antibiotic resistance. Safe and clear regulation is key to bringing these technologies from lab to patient efficiently.”
Dr Stella Peace, Innovate UK, added:
“These projects have the potential to transform how medicines are produced, supporting net zero goals, strengthening resilience, and driving long-term economic growth.”
This multi-million-pound support demonstrates the UK government’s commitment to keeping Britain at the forefront of life sciences, combining scientific excellence with industrial ambition to deliver breakthroughs that improve lives and the economy.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk
