The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has thanked Science Minister Patrick Vallance, who stepped down from his post ahead of the upcoming Cabinet reshuffle, for his support to the UK's life sciences sector.
ABPI Chief Executive Richard Torbett said: “Patrick Vallance has been a tremendous Science Minister and a genuine champion for the UK's life sciences sector.
"He has been instrumental in beginning to turn around international sentiment towards the UK as a life sciences destination. On behalf of the industry, I want to thank him for his leadership and his willingness to engage directly and constructively with me and with our sector throughout his time in office. He leaves big shoes to fill.
"I look forward to working with whoever the new Prime Minister appoints to this critical role, and to continuing to build on the momentum needed to deliver the real growth and investment potential of UK life sciences."
Vallance, a GSK veteran, resigned citing personal reasons.
He became Science Minister when Labour took power in July 2024, having served as the government’s chief scientific adviser from 2018 to 2023.
During his time as minister, Vallance sought to reshape public spending on R&D to attract investments.
Vallance had worked towards increasing the price the NHS pays for medicines to prevent pharmaceutical investments from continuing to leave the UK.
Many global pharma majors had in 2025 either paused or shelved investment plans in Britain citing a “difficult” environment and pressure on pricing.
However, this year investments in life sciences started trickling in, especially after the UK-US pharmaceutical arrangement in December last year.
Some of the major investments include Bristol Myers Squibb (£380m), UCB (£500m), AstraZeneca (£300 m), Boehringer Ingelheim £150m, GSK (£11m), and Norgine (£23m).
