The R&D site in Sandwich, UK, has been bought by a private consortium

Pfizer has found a buyer for its R&D site in Sandwich, UK: the site – now called Discovery Park – has been bought by a private consortium, according to Kent County Council.

Pfizer announced plans to close the historic site in February 2011, putting 2400 research jobs at risk. In November 2011, the company said that it would retain 650 people at the site, up from an initial figure of 300.

Commercial interest in the site has been small scale until now. US generics company Mylan said it would create a ‘centre of excellence’, and several small companies – run by former employees – have sprung up.