Sept 10 (Reuters) - Merck ( MRK ) said on Wednesday it

was scrapping research operations in London, citing the UK's

challenging business environment.

The company no longer plans to occupy the Belgrove House

site at King's Cross, which was due to open in 2027. The move

will impact about 125 staff members.

The company said it would relocate the research activity to

existing sites, primarily in the United States.

Pharmaceutical companies have been

shoring

up investment in the U.S. amid the Trump administration's

tariff threats and pressure to move more manufacturing to the

U.S.

The decision "reflects the challenges of the UK not

making meaningful progress towards addressing the lack of

investment in the life science industry and the overall

undervaluation of innovative medicines and vaccines by

successive UK governments," Merck ( MRK ) said in a statement.

(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole in Bengaluru and Michael Erman in

New York; Editing by Anil D'Silva)