Consulting work in the UK’s pharma & biotech industry has grown by 14.6 per cent to £238 million in 2015 and is expected to grow 16 per cent in 2016 – the fastest rate of any industry this year.

Analysis from Source Global Research (Source) has found that pharma companies have warmed considerably to consulting over the last few years, mainly as a result of dealing with intense regulatory and cost pressure as well as demand to constantly develop new drugs, devices, and services.

The Source report says that cost pressure is particularly acute in the UK thanks to NHS England’s cost savings ambitions, with its cancer drug bill high on its hit list.