Schering-Plough invests in Scotland drug discovery centre
pharmafile | February 6, 2009 | News story | Research and Development | Merck, Scotland
Schering-Plough is to invest around $30 million in its early drug discovery work in Scotland.
The company is investing a total of $60m across three of its worldwide locations in Scotland, the US and the Netherlands, and half is to be spent at its Newhouse facility in Scotland.
Making the announcement at the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Annual Dinner, John Swinney, cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth, said: "Schering-Plough's decision to make this substantial investment in its Newhouse facility is a welcome boost for Scotland's life science industry.
"It underlines the high quality of the company's Scottish workforce and shows there are reasons to be optimistic about prospects for Scotland's economy.
"There is no room for complacency in the current climate, which is why our actions in Government – through our economic recovery plan – are focused on ensuring Scotland is positioned to take early advantage of any recovery."
Senior vice president of discovery research at the Schering-Plough Research Institute and chief scientific officer Ismail Kola added: "With the Organon Biosciences acquisition in November 2007, Schering-Plough is creating a stronger combined company with increased R&D capabilities.
"The company has a long-term commitment to its research activities in Scotland and recognises the important contribution our colleagues make. Our Newhouse facility is now our core site for research in central nervous system (CNS) with a focus on analgesia and psychiatry. At Newhouse we also do research in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases."
The investment by Schering Plough has been supported with a Scottish Government offer of a £4.1m grant while Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International are continuing to work with the company to maximise opportunities at its Newhouse facility.
Jack Perry, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, added: "Life Sciences has been one of Scotland's great success stories in recent years and Schering Plough's commitment today is further testament to our ever growing reputation and capabilities in this sector"
The event also hosted the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Awards, which aim to honour groundbreaking achievements in Scotland's life sciences communities.
Glasgow-based firm Bio Outsource picked up the award for Most Promising New Life Sciences Company, while Edinburgh based Charles River was won the company award for Leading Contribution to Life Sciences in Scotland.
Professor Sir Philip Cohen picked up the individual award for Leading Contribution to Life Sciences in Scotland, for his role as director of the MRC's Protein Phosphorylation Unit and Royal Society Research Professor at the University of Dundee.
Dr Alastair Cozens of NHS Grampian picked up the Award for Best Innovation originating from NHS Scotland for iPAM, a robotic system for stroke rehabilitation, which he developed in conjunction with Professor Bipinchandra Bhakta and Dr Martin Levesley of the University of Leeds.
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