New state-owned company to manage Public Health England drug development

Public Health England has announced that it will be transferring its drug development and production to a new standalone, state-owned biopharmaceutical limited company.

The government department's clinical drug production and development has taken place at Porton, near Salisbury, Wiltshire since the 1970s. Last year, it generated revenues of more than 44 million pounds.

Following this move, a new company called Porton Biopharma will be established, which is wholly owned by the secretary of state for health. It will employ over 200 people at the Porton site and will now be better placed to develop further business.

The future success and revenue growth of this company will provide Public Health England with an income dividend, which will be used to deliver on other priorities.

Managing director Dr Roger Hinton said: "As a standalone company we can better compete in the biopharmaceutical market and shape our own future, pursue more opportunities and more rapidly respond to changes in global drug markets."

The company manufactures the leukaemia drug Erwinase, as well as the only UK-licensed vaccine for anthrax.