Pharmaceutical companies are refocusing and pulling out of research in some areas all together. Further research will not provide a positive enough ROI for only minor improvements from existing treatments.  AstraZeneca is cutting research in ten disease areas whilst GlaxoSmithKline has already halted development of new depression and pain medicines.

AZ Britain’s second largest pharmaceutical company confirmed on Tuesday 2 March that the Charnwood research site and a smaller facility in Cambridge would close by the end of 2011 resulting in 1,200 job loses.

This is shattering news for their employees and a big blow for Leicestershire as AZ is one of the major employers in the region. Although on a more positive note the company added that where possible it would re-deploy staff, indentifying Alderly Park in Cheshire as an option. http://tinyurl.com/ycqhfmw