The UK and Japanese governments have announced a sweeping pharmaceutical and technology partnership aimed at accelerating drug discovery, focusing on genomic medicine and bolstering manufacturing. Confirmed during a high-profile visit to Japan by the British prime minister, the deal deepens ties between two of the world’s most prominent innovation hubs.
Boosting gene therapy and manufacturing
A central pillar of the announcement is an £11m UK investment by Orchard Therapeutics, the London-based subsidiary of Japanese pharma leader Kyowa Kirin. The capital is for the development of novel gene therapies targeting rare and life-threatening genetic diseases.
The investment is expected to be supported by the UK’s Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund, reinforcing the UK’s position as a global centre for advanced therapies.
“Bolstering our presence, infrastructure and internal capabilities in our Hammersmith lab is a critical component to ensuring we remain well-positioned to continue developing innovative cell and gene therapies,” said Dr Bobby Gaspar, CEO, Orchard Therapeutics.
Genomics and quantum drug discovery
The collaboration also extends to a multi-year strategic partnership between British genomics pioneer Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Japanese provider Genesis Healthcare. The partnership will deploy sensing technology to consolidate multiple legacy testing methods into a single, high-resolution genomic test, specifically designed to accelerate the clinical screening of previously under-diagnosed neuromuscular conditions.
Furthermore, the two nations have committed £9.7m in joint funding for three quantum technology projects. These initiatives will leverage quantum computing and sensors to tackle complex challenges in drug discovery and secure data transmission.
Technological resilience
Expanding beyond life sciences, the agreement allocates £6m to develop advanced telecommunications infrastructure. This programme will focus on integrating AI into mobile networks and deploying satellite-based ‘non-terrestrial’ internet to eliminate coverage gaps. These technologies also provide defence against cyber threats and natural disasters.
“It’s crucial that British and Japanese scientific and commercial partnerships continue to flourish,” noted UK Science Minister Lord Vallance. “The prizes include new therapies for diseases that were previously considered untreatable.“
Strengthening global supply chains
The package, expected to add £33bn in two-way trade, is designed to create resilient pharma supply chains. By aligning regulatory and research objectives, both nations aim to transition genomic breakthroughs from the lab to the clinic more rapidly.
