LONDON — In a blow to the U.K., Merck said Wednesday it was halting research operations in the country and bailing on a major London research center, in part in protest over how the U.K. pays for medicines.

The U.K. has been trying to promote the life sciences in recent years, arguing that its renowned academic institutions and the National Health Service make it an attractive place for companies to invest in research and run trials.

But the pharma industry has grown increasingly frustrated with what it says is the U.K.’s failure to support the industry and pay the prices that are warranted to innovative new drugs. Companies have repeatedly warned that U.K. policy, including the scheme under which the NHS buys medicines, could compel them to devote their resources elsewhere, and even not

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