Pfizer site closure 'worrying'

The US group said it was shutting its renowned research and development (R&D) facility at Sandwich, Kent, and would make the majority of the site's 2,400 staff redundant over the next 18 months to two years.

Medical experts said the move was "devastating" for British science, coming as the latest in a series of UK R&D job cuts as the industry moves to slash costs.

The Royal Society of Chemistry said the science sector was witnessing the "haemorrhaging of the lifeblood of the British pharmaceuticals industry".

Trade union Unite reacted with dismay at Pfizer's decision, which it said will see the withdrawal of Sandwich's biggest employer.

Pfizer has a history at Sandwich dating back more than 50 years and the Kent R&D site lays claim to some of the world's biggest medical discoveries, including blockbuster drug Viagra.

Mr Denham said: "It's a hugely worrying decision. This is one of those industries where we should aim to be world-beating in the years to come.

"It looks as though the Government haven't been involved as players. This is a warning about how vulnerable we are."

Business Secretary Vince Cable has said Pfizer's decision was "extremely disappointing" and confirmed he was forming a taskforce to mitigate the impact on local jobs.

He is also due to meet Pfizer and other drugs companies to look at continuing R&D activities at the Sandwich site.

"This country is an attractive location for the life sciences industry and with R&D tax credits and our plans to introduce a Patent Box, the Government is committed to ensuring the UK is the destination of choice for investment, research and growth," he added.

The Sandwich site is the European hub of Pfizer's global R&D division, but has already been hit with redundancies in recent years and Pfizer closed its manufacturing operations at the site in 2007.