U.K. Pharma-Bio Industry Braces for Brexit, an Industrial Info Market Brief

With the March 2019 Brexit deadline looming, the U.K. government is taking no chances on drug shortages and has told pharma-bio companies to prepare for a worst-case scenario. While nothing is certain in regard to Brexit's impact on existing trade agreements, drug companies are stockpiling drugs. U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in an open letter: "We will ensure the U.K. has an additional six weeks' supply of medicines in case imports from the EU through certain routes are affected." This would be over and above the existing three-month supply already in effect. In addition to increased inventories, the government's plan allows for airlifting in of needed drugs with a short shelf life. Industrial Info's pharma-bio industry database has 412 U.K. plant reports, covering operational, planned, engineered and under-construction sites. This is in addition to 236 project reports, representing a potential $5.4 billion in capital spending.