Protesters attack premises of pharmaceutical firms
Lloyds courts Boots pharmacists
Nucare launches distribution business

News in brief

Protesters attack premises of pharmaceutical firms

Groups of protesters attacked sites belonging to several pharmaceutical companies on February 11. Damage to property was caused at some sites and a number of arrests were made.

A spokeswoman for Thames Valley Police told The Journal on February 13 that Bayer Plc’s research site at Stoke Poges, Berkshire, was attacked by a group of protesters at about 2pm on February 11. They forced entry to the building, smashing ground floor windows and upturning cabinets. The police made 81 arrests.

Shortly after 2.30pm a similar group of protesters arrived at the well-known Horlicks factory at Slough, Berkshire, which is owned by Glaxosmithkline Plc. Again windows were smashed and arrests were made following a sit down protest. Eight minibuses and vans were impounded.

Attacks were also reported at premises belonging to Novartis at Frimley, Surrey, Roche at Bushey and Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, and Eli Lilly at Windlesham, Surrey.

The attacks were condemned by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, which called them an attack on sick people. In a statement issued on February 12, the ABPI said that animal research, the target of the protesters’ action, was an essential part of research into new medicines. By law, there was no way in which new medicines could be developed without tests on animals.

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Lloyds courts Boots pharmacists

Lloyds Pharmacy last week sent a recruitment letter to pharmacists working for Boots the Chemists Ltd.The letter highlighted recent press speculation, denied by Boots, that Boots was preparing to make over 1,000 of its staff redundant (PJ, February 10, p175).

Ms Priscilla Dawson (public relations manager, Boots) told The Journal on February 13 that Boots was committed to pharmacy. Although the letter contained elements of fact, it was based on inaccurate press reports. She said that the company found it difficult to understand why Lloyds had written to its pharmacists at their place of work. Boots had been in contact with both Lloyds and its own pharmacists.

Mr Nick Mortimer (deputy superintendent pharmacist, Lloyds) told The Journal that a letter had been sent by Lloyds’s recrutment department. He saw it as a consequence of the manpower problems which had been present over the past few years and which were exacerbated by shortages this year.

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Nucare launches distribution business

Nucare Plc has launched its own distribution business under the name Nucare Pharmaceuticals. It will be based at the 10,000 sq ft warehouse and office complex at Stanmore, north London, which Nucare acquired when it bought Wakefield Impex last year.

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News in brief

Scotland award for Askit powders

Askit Laboratories Ltd has been awarded the right to carry the Scotland device on its Askit powders by Scotland the Brand, a trade and tourism promotion organisation. The device is granted to products inherently associated with Scotland. Askit powders have been produced in Glasgow since 1917.

BUPA buys Clicklocum

BUPA (British United Provident Association) has acquired Clicklocum, a business which uses the internet and mobile telephones to link prospective pharmacy locums and employers (PJ, April 1, 2000, p507). The service is to be relaunched on March 13.

Roche website for professionals

Roche Products Ltd has launched a website for health care professionals and patients in the United Kingdom (www.rocheuk.com). The site contains approved information on the company’s products and on therapeutic areas, such as breast cancer, heart disease, weight management and HIV, with which the company is involved.

Genzyme extends Haverhill site

Genzyme Ltd is to invest £55m in expanding its pharmaceutical manufacturing site at Haverhill, Suffolk. The expansion will allow a ten-fold increase in production of sevelamer (Renagel) which is used to treat hyperphosphataemia in patients receiving haemodialysis. More than 200 new jobs will be created by the time the manufacturing units are operational in 2003. Genzyme currently employs 120 people at Haverhill.

Update for MCA website

The Medicines Control Agency has updated and expanded its website (www.open.gov.uk/mca/mcahome.htm). The site includes details of the agency’s work, details of current consultations, drug safety updates and links to other relevant sites.

New warehouse for Mawdsleys

Mawdsley-Brooks & Co Ltd has acquired a purpose-built warehouse at Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. The new depot, which will be operational by the end of the year, will allow the company to make deliveries as far as north London, Colchester and Bristol. It currently has depots at Salford, West Bromwich and Sheffield.

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