The pharmaceutical industry plays an important role in improving Britain’s health and supporting economic growth by developing innovative, life-saving medicines.
The American Pharmaceutical Group (APG) represents eleven of the largest-based biopharmaceutical companies with a presence in the UK. We champion the vital contribution our members make to patients, the NHS and the UK economy, and work to ensure the UK remains a globally competitive environment for life sciences investment, innovation and access to new medicines.
American companies with a strong UK presence
The pharmaceutical industry is a major source of investment and a vital part of the UK’s life sciences ecosystem. The American companies that comprise the APG have a long-standing commitment to the UK and play a crucial role in strengthening the country’s research, development and innovation capabilities.
In 2024, companies headquartered in the United States accounted for around 55 per cent of global biopharmaceutical R&D investment. With intensifying global competition to attract life sciences investment, the APG works to ensure that the UK remains a leading destination for investment, innovation and growth.
APG member companies are significant investors and employers across the UK, supporting jobs in research and development (R&D), manufacturing, clinical research and commercial operations. In 2024, APG members employed 8,995 people in the UK and invested more than £2 billion in UK R&D.
APG member companies are at the forefront of developing innovative treatments for patients across a wide range of disease areas. Between 2020 and 2024, APG members collectively conducted 941 clinical trials in the UK, with nine out of 11 members enrolling more than 11,800 participants into clinical research studies. During the same period, APG companies launched 76 new medicines in the UK, providing greater opportunity for patients to benefit from innovative medicines and supporting advances in healthcare innovation.
The APG’s role
The APG serves as a voice for its members’ corporate headquarters and promotes dialogue between the US biopharmaceutical industry, the UK Government, the NHS and wider stakeholders. The Group is committed to working collaboratively across the healthcare and life science sectors to support the Government’s priorities of NHS reform and UK economic growth. The APG works closely with the industry’s trade body, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, and as a group of US-based companies, the APG brings a unique international policy perspective to discussions on investment, innovation, patient access and the future of the UK’s life sciences sector.
