THE boss of an expanding pharmaceutical company says Galashiels is “a great place from which to run an international business.” And Tom Stratford, chief executive of ProStrakan, believes the coming of the railway will make the town an even more attractive destination for firms with the potential to create jobs.

“The ability of Galashiels to tap into a much bigger and more skilled labour market will be an immediate advantage of the railway,” said Dr Stratford.

“In terms of our own staff who make the daily commute from the Edinburgh area, the option of taking the train will, I’m sure, make life much easier.

“Companies like ProStrakan could, in the modern world, be headquartered anywhere, but Galashiels, with its high quality of life, has proved an ideal location.

“The railway will be the icing on the cake.” Dr Stratford was reflecting as ProStrakan, which employs 130 at Galabank Business Park, reported that worldwide sales of prescription products researched, developed and licensed by the firm hit a record £160m in 2014/15.

This compares to the £105m achieved in 2011 when it became a major subsidiary of the Japan-based global pharmaceutical giant Kyowa Hakko Kirin (KHK).

And it represents a significant milestone for a company celebrating its 20th anniversary.

It was in 1995 that Dr Stratford’s father Harry and his business partner Professor John Kanis set up Strakan at a small office in Melrose.

The breakthrough for the fledgling enterprise came in 1999 with the UK licensing of ADCAL-D3, a supplement aimed at correcting deficiencies of calcium and vitamin D and a boon for people with conditions such as osteoporosis.

It was a success which saw the company relocate at the start of the new millennium to a refurbished factory in what is now the Galabank Business Park.

In 2004, Strakan merged with French-based ProSkelia to form ProStrakan and, the following year, it was floated on the London Stock Exchange.

Other products followed, including Sancuso – a transdermal patch for the prevention of nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy – and Abstral which tackles the so-called breakthrough pain experienced by cancer sufferers.

Dr Stratford, who joined the company in 1997 and was in charge of business development until becoming chief executive in 2011, said ProStrakan was entering an “exciting phase” with several new products set to hit the market, including more cancer treatments and a new drug to combat a rare genetic disease which affects the development of children with the condition.

“”We’ve had 20 happy and successful years in the Borders – long may it continue!” said Dr Stratford.