Dive Brief:
- Gilead Sciences, maker of hep C blockbusters Sovaldi and Harvoni, will be opening a new $19.6 million London headquarters, PM Live reports.
- London Mayor Boris Johnson announced the planned HQ during a visit to Boston.
- Gilead will also be doubling its UK workforce to 600 employees, 2/3 of whom will be located in London. The company already has an R&D facility in Cambridge and an international operations center in Uxbridge.
Dive Insight:
Success breeds expansion. And with two blockbusters with major therapeutic value launched in the last two years, Gilead has certainly been enjoying its fair share of success.
Mayor Johnson also announced that another Boston-based company, mobile health firm Mobiquity, would be launching its own London HQ. "Gilead and Mobiquity's moves to London further underline the growing importance of the life sciences industry in the UK as we look to ensure that this crucial sector becomes a key contributor to the capital's growth and health," said Johnson during a life sciences investment meeting.