The chief executive of Eli Lilly, Dave Ricks, has declared Britain to be "probably the worst country in Europe" for drug prices, intensifying pressure on the UK government to improve market conditions for pharmaceutical companies. In an interview with the Financial Times, Ricks highlighted that the UK's stringent cost controls have created what he described as "the most challenging environment for drug companies across the continent." This criticism comes as part of a broader backlash from pharmaceutical giants, including Merck and AstraZeneca, who have paused or scaled back investments in Britain due to the challenging business environment.

Ricks specifically targeted the VPAG rebate scheme, an agreement between the government, the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry aimed at improving patient outcomes and managing the NHS medicine bill. He stated that the company "would like to get rid of the clawback scheme called VPAG... which charges us for our own success." Media reports indicate that talks with the government over the scheme have reached a deadlock, though the health department has not immediately commented on the status of negotiations. A government spokesperson responded that Britain was working closely with industry to make "the UK the destination of choice for life sciences companies to invest."

The Eli Lilly CEO warned that unless Britain raises drug prices and scraps the rebate scheme, the country would miss out on new medicines and see reduced investment. "Unless that changes, I don't think they will see many new medicines and I don't think they will see much investment," Ricks told the Financial Times. He emphasized that "that's the UK's choice, but we react to those choices," suggesting potential consequences for drug availability and pharmaceutical investment in the UK market.

The criticism comes amid broader industry concerns and follows recent actions by Eli Lilly, including a 170% price increase for the weight-loss drug Mounjaro for private buyers in the UK last month. Ricks noted an unusual trend where "people taking trains from Paris to buy UK Mounjaro" due to pricing differences, which he said "doesn't make a tonne of sense for us." The pharmaceutical industry faces additional pressure from US President Donald Trump's demands for reduced drug prices in the United States, creating a complex global pricing environment for companies like Eli Lilly, which employs 700 people in Basingstoke and Bracknell and first expanded to the UK in 1934.

British actor Callum Turner and pop superstar Dua Lipa have captured public attention with their whirlwind romance that began in January 2024 and culminated in an engagement confirmed in June. The couple's relationship timeline includes key public milestones, from being spotted together after the 'Masters of the Air' premiere in London to making their red carpet debut at the 2025 Met Gala. Their journey from initial meeting to engagement has unfolded over approximately 18 months, with both stars navigating demanding careers while building their personal connection.

The couple's first encounter reads like something from a romantic screenplay. Turner, 35, revealed to The Times that they finally met at a mutual friend's birthday party in Los Angeles after experiencing several 'near-misses' where their paths almost crossed but didn't. The most remarkable aspect of their initial meeting occurred when they sat next to each other and discovered they were both reading the same book, Hernán Díaz's 'Trust,' and had both just finished the first chapter. Turner described the moment as cinematic, noting that they realized they were 'on the same page' both literally and figuratively.

Maintaining a relationship between two high-profile careers requires strategic effort, and Turner has shared insights into how they manage the challenges of long-distance dating. The actor emphasized the importance of making time for each other regardless of busy schedules, stating their motto is 'it's never not worth it.' He recounted a recent instance where he flew to Boston for just two days to see Lipa between her tour commitments and his filming schedule, despite feeling exhausted. The couple relies heavily on FaceTime to stay connected and prioritizes creating meaningful memories during their limited time together.

Before their fateful meeting, Turner and Lipa experienced what he describes as multiple 'sliding doors' moments that nearly prevented their connection. The actor detailed one specific instance where Lipa left a party at 1:45 AM and he arrived at 2:00 AM, missing each other by mere minutes. These near-misses spanned several occasions involving mutual friends and shared social circles. Turner expressed gratitude that when they finally did meet under the right circumstances, he immediately recognized Lipa as 'the most beautiful woman in the world,' setting the stage for a relationship that would quickly progress from dating to engagement.