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Life Science Combined
A specialist solution for complex, evolving risks, supported by 65 years of combined industry expertise.
Get a quote
How do I get a quote for Life Science Combined?
We're committed to serving our brokers with the exceptional service and quick decisions they rely on; however they choose to trade.
Life Science Combined is available to trade manually on the open market. You can request a quote for your client today via the following methods:
Proposal Form
You can download our Life Science Combined proposal form here, and submit it to MarkelUKFinancialLines@markel.com.
Existing Market Presentation
If you have an existing risk profile for your client you can email this into the team at MarkelUKFinancialLines@markel.com.
Telephone
If you wish to discuss the risk with our specialist underwriters, you can get in contact with the team via the phone on 0345 351 2600.
Following broker feedback, we are currently working on an eTrade product for Life Science Combined that will be live in 2026.
If you want to find out more information about Markel UK Online, as well as requesting an account, you can do so here.
What makes Life Science Combined different?
Specialist coverages for complex risks
Protect your clients against sector-specific exposures, including medical malpractice, product efficacy claims, cyber incidents, and clinical trials liability – risks often excluded by generalist insurers.
Value-added services
Offering your clients access to 20 value-added services, including intellectual property reviews, cyber tools, and 24/7 legal advice, designed to help businesses grow while managing complex sector risks.
Expertise you can trust
65 years of combined industry expertise with deep professional indemnity, legal expenses and life science knowledge, providing stability and confidence to SMEs in the sector and understanding of the challenges they face.
Backed by 5-star service
Brokers have voted us Insurance Times Commercial Lines Insurer of the Year, and our commitment to building strong partnerships with both brokers and customers is stronger than ever.
What does Life Science Combined protect against?
Life Science Combined offers tailored protection for niche industries within the sector: life sciences, cosmetics, and vitamins and food supplements. Cover is modular and can be tailored towards the needs of each client’s specific needs and scale.
Life Science Combined: your one-stop shop for coverage.
- Public and products liability
(including efficacy) - Clinical trials liability
- Directors and officers liability
- Entity defence
- Employers’ liability
- Employment law protection
- Property damage
- Business interruption
- Professional Liability
(including products liability, financial loss, medical malpractice and intellectual property rights) - Money and personal assault
- Damage to portable property
- Fidelity
- Cyber and data risks
- Transit
- Legal expenses
Who is Life Science Combined for?
This solution is ideal for a wide variety of SMEs operating within the life science, cosmetics, and vitamins and food supplements sector.
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Life science
- Medical devices (Class I, IIa, IIb, III): Manufacture, distribution or retail of medical devices
- Medicines (Prescription Only, Pharmacy, General Sale List): Manufacture, supply or sale of medicinal products
- MedTech: Development or production of technology-enabled medical products
- Biotechnology: Research and experimental development in biotechnology
- Assistive technology: Design, manufacture or supply of devices that assist with daily living or mobility
- Prosthetists / Orthotists: Manufacture or fitting of prosthetic and orthotic devices
- Site Management Organisation (SMO): Management of clinical trial sites
- Regulatory / Compliance consultancy: Consultancy services supporting regulatory approval or compliance
- Software (Medical device): Software developed or marketed as a regulated medical device
- Contract Manufacturing Organisation (CMO): Third-party manufacturers producing goods under contract
- Contract Research Organisation (CRO): Research or testing services for third parties
- Product design services: Product design and prototype development
- Service engineer: Installation or maintenance of specialist medical or laboratory equipment
- Software engineer: Specialist software development for medical or scientific systems
- Laboratories: Diagnostic, analytical or research laboratories (non-clinical)
- Wholesale of pharmaceuticals and related goods: Wholesaling of pharmaceutical, cosmetic or vitamin products
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Vitamins and Food Supplements
- Herbal remedies: Manufacture or sale of herbal or plant-based health products
- Homeopathic remedies: Manufacture or sale of homeopathic products
- Vitamins, minerals and food supplements: Manufacture or distribution of vitamins, minerals and dietary supplements
- Medical food: Manufacture or distribution of nutritionally enhanced food for medical use
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Cosmetics
- Cosmetics / Cosmetic devices: Manufacture, distribution or retail of cosmetic products or devices
- Perfumes and fragrances: Manufacture, distribution or retail of perfumes and fragrances
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Life science
- Weight loss drugs: Manufacture or supply of prescription weight management drugs
- Global clinical trials: Clinical trials conducted outside the UK
- Non-UK liability (other than workers’ compensation): Overseas exposure outside incidental UK operations
- Infusion pumps: Manufacture or distribution of infusion equipment
- Vaccines: Manufacture or development of vaccines
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Cosmetics
- Implanted silicone liquid or gel products: Manufacture or supply of silicone implants or fillers
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Life science
- Metal-on-metal implants: Manufacture or distribution of joint implants containing metal-on-metal surfaces
- Surgical mesh: Manufacture or distribution of surgical mesh products
- Permanent contraception devices: Manufacture or distribution of devices used for sterilisation or permanent contraception
- Opiates in North America: Any risk associated with opioid products in the North American market
- Non-UK-domiciled property: Businesses headquartered outside the UK
Going beyond traditional insurance
Life Science Combined offers more than just protection. Access expert advice, practical tools, and business support resources, all tailored to the challenges of the sector.
Grow, fund, and protect your ideas
Turn innovation into opportunity with support that helps manage risk, protect intellectual assets, and unlock funding or growth potential. Work with a dedicated legal specialist to review and protect intellectual property, with one complimentary IP capture and review included per policy term.
Plus, access expert support to sense-check confidentiality terms with employees, partners, or suppliers, reducing the risk of disputes or IP loss. This includes a complimentary two-hour review and pay-as-you-go support if more time is needed.
Business advice and support
When time is tight and ideas are moving fast, having the right support to hand makes all the difference. Life Science Combined gives access to our Business Hub, with over 900 ready-to-use contracts, policies, forms, and templates covering everything from health and safety to cyber and trading issues. Speak directly with qualified solicitors via our 24/7 business and legal helpline, giving timely, practical guidance whenever it’s needed – all included at no additional cost.
Run a safe, resilient business
From supply chain disruption to cyber threats, life science businesses face a wide range of operational risks. We can help prepare for and respond to disruption through business continuity, resilience, and compliance services, supporting the maintenance of critical operations during outages or system failures.
Access risk assessments, safety audits, and fire risk reviews to help identify and manage lab or office risks, alongside tailored health and safety policies and procedures to support compliance. These services are available on a pay-as-you-go basis at preferential policyholder rates.
Frequently asked questions
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What is Life Science Combined insurance and who is it for?
Life Science Combined is Markel’s specialist insurance solution for UK life sciences businesses, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics, and vitamins and food supplements. It’s designed for organisations involved in research, manufacture, distribution, or specialist support services such as CROs, CMOs, and regulatory consultancies, covering risks that general commercial policies often exclude.
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How does life science insurance differ from life insurance?
Life science insurance protects businesses, not individuals. It covers commercial risks such as product liability, professional indemnity, clinical trials, cyber threats, and regulatory investigations. Life insurance, by contrast, is a personal policy that provides financial protection to families in the event of death.
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Why is specialist insurance important for life science businesses?
Life science companies face complex, highly regulated risks, from product efficacy claims to clinical trials exposure. Specialist insurers like Markel understand these nuances, helping avoid gaps in cover, claims disputes, and disruptive remarketing often associated with generalist policies.
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What does Markel’s Life Science Combined solution cover?
The policy brings together core protections including public and products liability, professional indemnity, clinical trials liability, cyber cover, and regulatory investigation costs, tailored to the specific risks of life science, cosmetics, and vitamins and supplements businesses.
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What additional support is included beyond insurance cover?
Policyholders can access a range of value-added services, including intellectual property reviews, confidentiality terms reviews, and practical legal and compliance support via Markel’s Business Hub and 24/7 legal helpline.
Product Documents
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