LifeScan Scotland in Inverness receives 8.7 million pounds in investment

LifeScan Scotland, the manufacturer of a number of diabetes products, is investing £8.7m into its Inverness plant.
LifeScan, whose product portfolio includes the Verio blood glucose meter range, is Scotland’s largest life sciences company. The company currently employs more than 1,100 people in Inverness.
The plant in Inverness, a centre of excellence for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), manufactures LifeScan’s test strips and develops blood glucose monitoring software for use with the meters.
The investment includes a £1.85m grant from the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) – the Scottish Government’s economic and community development agency for the region. The investment will support the region with an additional 600 jobs and will allow LifeScan to broaden their research, development and manufacturing of new diabetes technology.
Alex Paterso, chief executive of the HIE, stated: “This investment by the company reinforces Inverness’s position as a global [research and development] centre, and will ensure LifeScan technology continues to be at the global forefront of the monitoring and treatment of diabetes.”
LifeScan is part of the Johnson and Johnson group along with its sister company, Animas, which develops insulin pumps.
Andreas Kreitz, Worldwide Director of Diabetes Care Manufacturing at Johnson and Johnso, stated: “Our investment plan, and the grant support from HIE, will enable LifeScan Scotland to research and test alternative, more cost-effective materials and production methods that will increase productivity and enable us to serve our global customers better.”
LifeScan Scotland was established in 2001 after the acquisition of Inverness Medical Ltd by Johnson and Johnson.
Image source: Lifescan-Scotland.co.uk