Eisai to expand manufacturing capabilities in Hatfield

Eisai has announced that it will be expanding its UK production facilities in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, ahead of the planned launch of several new products.

The company will be opening an additional packaging plant at a cost of eight million pounds, with the work set to begin in September 2013 and be completed in the middle of 2014, thus creating up to 40 new jobs in the process.

Hatfield is used by Eisai as a global supply centre for new products such as the antiepileptic agent Fycompa, as well as functioning as a production and packaging base for countries in Europe.

This move was welcomed by universities and science minister David Willetts, who said it is indicative of the success of government initiatives to make Britain more attractive for life science investments.

Eisai's president Haruo Naito added: "The UK remains competitive as a location for advanced manufacturing and I am delighted that we are now able to expand our global centre for packaging at Hatfield."

The firm established its commercial operations in the UK and opened its European knowledge centre in Hatfield in 2009.