"The UK remains genuinely world-leading for life sciences in numerous areas - yet we continue to underperform on our potential," said Richard Torbett, Chief
Executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).
His statement is based on recent government data indicating that the UK is not fully capitalizing on its strong historical and institutional advantages in life
sciences across a range of economic, health, and research indicators.
The latest 'Life sciences competitiveness indicators 2024' report from the government's Office for Life Sciences revealed that while the pharmaceutical industry
leads in R&D spending with £9 billion in 2022, representing a fifth of total business investment, the country saw a notable decline in foreign direct
investment (FDI), industry clinical trials, and exports.
In 2023, FDI dropped by 21 per cent to £0.8 billion, following a trend that saw a 52 per cent decrease over the previous two years, including a £0.9 billion fall
in FDI the year prior.