Alex Ralph

An undisclosed family investment office of Sir Pascal Soriot, the chief executive of AstraZeneca, financially backed an organisation that is a “major partner” of Britain’s biggest public company, The Times can reveal thetimes.com/business/compa…

In a letter sent by Julia Lopez, shadow science, innovation and technology secretary, to Liz Kendall, the secretary of state, seen by The Times, she said: “Companies have told me directly that UK margins cannot absorb VAT bills on medicines provided free of charge.”

HMRC has been issuing VAT bills to pharma companies providing medicines at no cost to patients through post-clinical trial continuity of care or compassionate use schemes.

Bayer has stopped new patients receiving medicines under an early access scheme and another multinational is considering a similar move in a dispute with ministers over tax bills for supplying free-of-charge drugs thetimes.com/business/econo…

Reform and crypto: how close is too close? In my essay for today's Times, I follow the money and look at... - The 'crypto army' that took DC, now targeting London - The new, stunning conflicts of interest - The £9m bonus scheme Farage didn't mention times-comment.com/nfc

Andy Haldane: UK economy has fighting chance of turnaround this year Full interview with the new British Chambers of Commerce president on growth, AI, jobs, government instability and Reform UK: thetimes.com/business/econo…

We're also looking for a Sports Reporter to join the @TimesSport team - someone eager to break news stories and work on agenda-setting projects across the world of sport. Details below 🔽 newscareers.co.uk/vacancies/4262…

@Gabriel_Pogrund and I were the subject of a disgraceful smear campaign — just for doing our jobs I’m proud that The Sunday Times is calling it out on the front page tomorrow Labour activists paid for smear campaign against journalists thetimes.com/article/e5efcc…

An insolvent property investment company directed by Aidan and Howard Barclay has left creditors with debts of more than £680 million With @jameshurley thetimes.com/business/compa…

A subsidiary of AstraZeneca in China, a former leading executive and a senior employee have been charged in the country after investigations by authorities thetimes.com/business/compa…

AstraZeneca has forecast a further rise in sales and profits as it awaits the results of more than 20 late-stage trial readouts in 2026 thetimes.com/business/compa…

GSK posted full-year profit and sales above City forecasts and reiterated a key headline medium-term target - Shares up 3.2% and Luke Miels bullish during first results call as CEO - GSK needs to be "more product centric" and more "scientific courage" thetimes.com/business/compa…

Alvarez & Marsal, the administrators of NMC Health, the collapsed former FTSE 100 company, have reached a settlement with NMC's former auditor EY in its £2 billion High Court claim thetimes.com/business/compa…

GSK is considering possible future cost savings and manufacturing changes in Europe as it looks to invest further in launching potential new blockbuster drugs Look ahead as Luke Miels prepares his first results on Wednesday as new CEO: thetimes.com/business/compa…

Leon Wang, who was AstraZeneca's head of international and China, is believed to still be in detention more than a year after he was arrested. Amnesty International UK, said Starmer and Soriot’s visit “presents a clear opportunity to press for answers about the fate” of Wang.

AstraZeneca plans to invest $15 billion in China by 2030 to expand medicines manufacturing and research and development, amid sensitivities over its operations in the country and the prime minister’s visit to Beijing thetimes.com/business/compa…

The government’s decision to hand the contract to a foreign rival at a time when Britain was leaving the European Union angered some politicians, including Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary at the time, who called for the decision to be reversed.

De La Rue missed out on the new blue passports contract to Gemalto, a French-Dutch rival, in 2018 which hit the company’s financial position and led to the closure of its Gateshead site and job losses.

De La Rue has struck a joint venture with a Canadian partner as it attempts to win back the British passports contract it lost eight years ago to a European rival - Vowing to create hundreds of UK jobs and invest tens of millions reshoring manufacturing thetimes.com/business/compa…

How Sir Keir Starmer hopes to revive ‘golden era’ with visit to Beijing As Starmer prepares the first British prime minister’s trip to China since 2018, what are the challenges and opportunities for UK-Sino business relations? Weekend read: thetimes.com/uk/politics/ar…