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Facts, figures and industry data

Facts, figures and industry data

Headline pharmaceutical industry statistics

The figures below provide a snapshot of key biopharmaceutical sector statistics relating to the UK’s economy and health systems. Sub-national statistics can be found via the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s interactive . International comparisons are available in several of the source documents and within the . Statistics on the economic and health system benefits which can be delivered through a supportive policy environment are available in the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø’s manifesto.ÌýÌý

Economic statistics

£17.6bn

direct Gross Value Added (GVA) [1]

£9.3bn

investment in UK R&D in 2024 [2]

£1 in every £6

invested by the private sector in R&D is invested by the pharmaceutical industry [3]

Health system statistics

£1.2bn

income to the NHS for industry clinical trials initiated in 2022/23 [9]

9%

amount the UK invests of overall healthcare spending on medicines – a significantly lower pro

19,092

patients recruited to interventional industry clinical trials in the NHS in 2024/25

578

industry clinical trials initiated in the UK in 2024 (increasing from 426 trials in

52%

average uptake of medicines launched between 2018 and 2022, in their first year follow

References:

[1] ONS, ‘Regional gross value added (balanced) by industry: all ITL regions’, 2021. Methodology available at:

[2] ONS '', Dec 2025 

[3] ONS '', Dec 2025

[4] ONS, ‘Industry Census Data 2021’, available at:  (methodology available at 

[5] OLS, ‘’, May 2024

[6] OLS, ‘’, May 2024

[7] ONS, , accessed 12 June 2025

[8] ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, The value of industry clinical trials to the UK, extended report, 02 Dec 2024

[9] Frontier Economics, ‘The value of industry clinical trials to the UK - extended report', Dec 2024

[10] IQVIA, , October 2025

[11] ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, ‘UK industry clinical trials: Translating actions into impact', Dec 2025

[12] ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, ‘UK industry clinical trials: Translating actions into impact', Dec 2025

[13] OLS, , July 2024

Industry data

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