Chinese animal health company invests in Scotland

Animal Health Science UK Ltd, a new life sciences company that specialises in developing livestock vaccines for the Chinese market, is to launch a new facility in Scotland.

The company, which has been supported by Scotland’s economic development agency, Scottish Enterprise, highlighted Scotland’s unrivalled expertise in animal health R&D, collaborative opportunities and relationships with academia as determining factors in its decision to locate in Scotland.

Based at the Moredun Research Institute in Penicuik, with an office in Beijing, the company has ambitious development plans. Future growth is estimated at ten employees, and a turnover of £1.2 million, by the end of its first year in business.

Scottish Enterprise, via its international arm Scottish Development International, worked with the company via its field office in China to introduce key contacts and in Scotland, to assist with establishing key industrial partners and with viewing potential locations.

Julia Brown, director of life and chemical sciences, Scottish Enterprise, said: “Animal Health Science UK Ltd’s decision to invest in Scotland is further evidence of our growing reputation as the ideal partner of choice in major life sciences projects. The move saw Scotland chosen over fierce competition from other locations such as Ireland and Surrey.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the company to link it with our world leading animal health researchers and help realise its ambitious growth plans from Scotland.”

Animal Health Science UK Ltd is focused exclusively on developing and transferring existing and new livestock vaccines from around the world to China – the world’s quickest growing major animal vaccine market. It currently has strong links with vaccine companies and research centres in Europe, South America, North America, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and has established relationships with major Chinese vaccine manufacturers.

Dr Claude Kaplan, managing director, Animal Health Science UK Ltd, said: “In deciding where we wanted to base our company we looked at locations which offered world class animal health R&D capabilities, a proven track in developing vaccines and a reputation for collaboration with industry. Here at Moredun, and in the surrounding Easter Bush area, we found the largest cluster of animal health R&D expertise in Europe with the full capabilities we require to enable us to effectively and efficiently bring new vaccines and vaccine technologies to China.”