Scotland’s First Minister breaks ground on the UK’s Oligonucleotide Manufacturing Innovation Centre

Today, Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, and the UK Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, Lord Vallance, marked the start of construction on CPI’s £20m Oligonucleotide Manufacturing Innovation Centre of Excellence in Glasgow City Region. This state-of-the-art facility, due for completion in 2025, represents a transformative milestone in the UK’s capabilities for the manufacture of life-saving oligonucleotide therapies.

Oligonucleotides are short strands of DNA or RNA that can target the underlying drivers of disease, with the potential to provide treatments for otherwise untreatable diseases, from cancers to Alzheimer’s. With an expanding pipeline of oligonucleotide-based medicines on the horizon, this centre places the UK at the forefront of their development and manufacture. 

The centre will pioneer sustainable manufacturing processes to produce oligonucleotides efficiently and support clinical manufacture. It will also enhance the UK’s competitiveness in the global medicines manufacturing supply chain. By establishing this robust UK-based capability, the centre will accelerate the pipeline of new oligonucleotide medicines, ensuring patients across the UK and globally gain faster access to these cutting-edge therapies. 

Jointly supported by UK and Scottish Governments through funding from the Office for Life Sciences and Scottish Enterprise, the new centre will act as a catalyst for economic growth and collaboration, creating high-skilled jobs and helping to form an innovative medicines manufacturing cluster in Scotland. The centre will be operated by CPI and positioned next to CPI’s Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre, expanding the company’s footprint at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS).

To enable workforce development through the centre, the Industry Skills Accelerator — a collaboration between CPI, Cogent Skills, and the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult — will deliver training programmes designed to equip both current sector professionals and new entrants with the skills needed to excel in oligonucleotide manufacturing. These initiatives will address critical skills gaps and foster a highly skilled workforce to support the sector’s growth. Delivered in partnership with RESILIENCE — the UK Medicines Manufacturing Skills Centre of Excellence — this programme will ensure the UK remains at the forefront of innovation in oligonucleotide therapeutics. 

The build of this new centre solidifies the UK as a global hub for pharmaceutical innovation. With the global market for oligonucleotides continuing to grow, the UK is set to lead the way in shaping the future of healthcare through collaboration, innovation, and investment. 

Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, said:

“This centre brings together life sciences and manufacturing – two of our most successful sectors. We know the life sciences sector is good for Scotland’s economy, but the medicines that will be made in Paisley will benefit people around the world by offering innovative and life-saving therapies with the potential to treat cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. 

“The Scottish Government contributed £10.275 million to this project through Scottish Enterprise. We did so because it reflects my commitment to transforming our approach to innovation by building new partnerships and driving collaboration between governments, industry and academic institutions.” 

UK Science Minister, Lord Vallance, said:

“Oligonucleotide therapies are set to be key medicines of the future and have huge potential to improve health outcomes for patients – tackling diseases such as cancer, Alzheimer’s and more. 

“This new centre of excellence is a strategic investment which will support economic growth and better healthcare: two of the missions at the heart of this Government’s Plan for Change.” 

Frank Millar, CEO of CPI, said:

“The Oligonucleotide Manufacturing Innovation Centre of Excellence will ensure we can get life-saving therapies to patients quicker, supporting the health and wellbeing of people around the world. 

“The centre demonstrates the UK’s leadership in advancing high-value manufacturing and healthcare innovation. By investing in the manufacturing technologies of tomorrow, we are not only strengthening the UK’s competitiveness on the global stage but bringing impact back into the regions where we operate, enhancing our ability to attract inward investment and creating high-skilled jobs.” 

Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, said:

“This is a terrific step in Scotland becoming a world-renowned Oligonucleotide hub where innovative, life-saving treatments will be developed for patients around the globe. 

“The market for this pioneering technology is predicted to double over the next five years which presents opportunities for many more companies to join a rapidly growing medicines manufacturing supply chain in Scotland. 

“Our support is part of our long-term focused strategy to scale innovation in growth sectors like Life Sciences where Scotland excels.”