Bristol-Myers Squibb, the US headquartered biopharmaceutical giant, is investing $6million dollars (£3.5million pounds) in its research and development laboratory in Moreton, Wirral.

This investment will provide new specialised laboratories for the development of new dosage forms and drug delivery systems for innovative therapeutic agents, through upgrading and redevelopment of existing facilities. The investment will be supportive of the approximately 100 existing scientific, technical and related jobs at the site.

The firm's decision to further invest in the region follows a visit to the City Region by two senior executives from the US, hosted by The Mersey Partnership (TMP), earlier this year.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Executive Director of Biopharmaceutics R&D, Dr Peter Timmins, said:

"There are many reasons as to why Bristol-Myers Squibb has chosen to continue to significantly invest into the Wirral site, namely; the exceptional quality and availability of skilled staff, the innovation and spirit that exists among the pharmaceutical community in the region, the world class universities, the networking opportunities, the national and international connectivity, and the support received from The Mersey Partnership, Invest Wirral and the NWDA."

A state-of-the-art company, Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global leader in research and development activity with a mission of providing medicines for unmet medical needs. The 11.2 acre research plant at Moreton has a successful track record of investigating the formulation, analysis and supply of newly discovered medicines and investigating at how they can be brought to patients efficiently on a commercial scale.

Lorraine Rogers, Chief Executive of The Mersey Partnership said:

"Bristol-Myers Squibb is a world class business operating in a global market. Their investment in Wirral is highly significant for Liverpool City Region's Biomedical sector. It will help to further build the City Region's expertise in this field and its reputation as a world class location for research-intensive ventures. TMP and Invest Wirral will continue to work closely with Bristol-Myers Squibb to support their future plans."

Wirral Council Leader, Cllr Steve Foulkes said:

"The strength of Wirral's Research and Development sector is a crucial part of our enterprise and employment plans for the future. Bristol-Myers Squibb is a long standing and high profile employer in Wirral and I am proud of the work Invest Wirral has done to help secure this important investment. Dr Timmins is a great advocate for Wirral and I'm sure this investment was secured in no small part because of his passion for the Borough and the Liverpool City Region as a whole."

Mark Hughes, Executive Director for Economic Development at the NWDA, said:

"BMS is recognised as a strategically important company within the NW Biomedical sector. This investment is welcomed as a sign of confidence in Moreton, its capabilities and performance. NWDA and Bionow look forward to continuing the long term relationship with BMS fostered over recent years."