a slap across the face for the UK science industry

There were few concerned e-mails sent to the Ukmedix Newsroom about the news that the world's largest pharmaceutical company Pfizer is shutting down a research base in the UK. Some men resident in the United Kingdom were concerned that this might impact on their ability to get the number one impotence medication Viagra. The good news is that they have nothing to worry about!

Pfizer said that they were merely shutting down the research lab as part of its drive to cut its overall research budgets and that it would have no effect on the availability of its medications in the UK.  Unfortunately the majority of the almost two and a half thousand employees at the location will lose their jobs and this is a major blow to unemployment figures in the area.

The news was also considered to be a slap across the face for the UK science industry and a number of UK scientists were said to be extremely disappointed if not angry about the decision. Professor Colin Mason from University College London described the shutting down as "totally unacceptable" and Professor Colin Blakemore from University of Oxford said it was a "shocking wake-up call."

It sounds like bad news for the UK economy but Pfizer were keen to make clear that they were still operating research facilities at Maidenhead, Walton Oaks, Aberdeen and Cambridge and that they were still committed to UK science industry. The UK Science Minister David Willetts said that the decision was not motivated by any issues that Pfizer had with the British government.

It is important to remember that the ability of companies like Pfizer to come up with life changing medications like Viagra is partly due to their ability to manage resources, costs and efficiencies for the maximum effect.

Viagra is the number one prescription erectile dysfunction medication in the UK and was launched over a decade ago.