Chris Molloy
Chief Executive Officer, BIA
The UK has built a nationwide engine for advanced therapies. Now, the task is to lead in scale and low-cost manufacturing, playing to its competitive advantage: innovation.
In 2025, the UK hosted 57% of Europe’s cell and gene therapy trials, and 9% of the global total. Homegrown companies are transforming cancer and inherited rare disease outcomes, backed by growing manufacturing talent.
The BioIndustry Association (BIA) has long championed the sector, with our Cell and Gene Therapy Advisory Committee convening experts to build the necessary infrastructure, talent pipeline and regulatory environment.
Advanced therapies will be reinvented through automation, digitalisation and AI
Regional expertise
In Stevenage, the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult’s Manufacturing Innovation Centre anchors a cluster, with companies like Autolus manufacturing CAR-Ts for use globally, including the NHS. In Edinburgh, RoslinCT manufactures Casgevy, the first approved CRISPR-based gene therapy. Nationwide, the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre network is strengthening trial infrastructure and NHS delivery.
The UK must retain and scale these companies by leading the next era of manufacturing. Advanced therapies will be reinvented through automation, digitalisation and AI. New models emerging locally create economies of scale and lower unit costs.
Leading environment
The MHRA is proposing approaches across rare disease, distributed manufacturing and AI, enabling earlier engagement and more affordable treatments.Clinical trial reforms helped Quell Therapeutics launch its CAR-Treg CHILL trial in just 113 days.
Britain must lead new production modes, automation, digitalisation and AI, and the regulation that lets advanced therapies scale here. That means industry, Government and regulators acting together, matching manufacturing with faster trials and adoption.
