Scientists urge government to save Britain’s pharma industry

By Kate Kelland LONDON (Reuters) – Leading British scientists called on the government on Wednesday to act now to save the nation's pharmaceutical industry from being swallowed up in a wave of consolidation driven by overseas rivals. In a statement prompted by a planned $100 billion (59.26 billion pounds) takeover of Britain's AstraZeneca by rival U.S. drugmaker Pfizer, leaders in pharmacology, biology, chemistry and biochemistry said the entire UK life sciences sector risked losing its lead. "The UK has been a world leader in medicines research and development, but recent closures and restructuring put this position under threat," they said. AstraZeneca, Britain's second-biggest drugmaker behind GlaxoSmithKline, is an important part of the sector and employs nearly 7,000 staff in the country.