Demise

It was sad to hear yesterday of the planned uprooting of AstraZeneca's research and development capability, over the next three years, away from Alderley Park to a new site in Cambridge. Sad on many counts: the loss of many jobs, compounded by presumably a large number of employees who will decide not to relocate to Cambridge; the loss of a prestigious research facility in the North West of England; the implication that the highest quality science and a successful global business are only achievable by moving closer to the technology and financial hubs of the South East. And a feeling that the pharmaceutical industry, which should be one of this country's flagship industries, is continuing to erode slowly away, with AstraZeneca's plan for re-structuring being just the latest in a series of half-hearted attempts to revitalise a failing company. And in the background, of course, are the families facing an uncertain future, doubtful whether relocation is a sensible or even realistic option, or whether it is time to seek an alternative career. It all seems such a waste of talent: these are highly skilled scientists, working in a field with the potential of generating wealth for the economy and, more importantly, significant advances in healthcare for our society. Yet we are content to watch it disintegrate.

With over 20 years in the industry, my own career has always been turbulent, with precious little security from one year to the next. At the moment, my prospects seem perhaps more settled than they have been for a long time; but you never know how long the present situation will last, and what difficult decisions the future may bring.