Pfizer announces R&D job losses
pharmafile | January 15, 2009 | News story | Research and Development | Pfizer
Jobs losses at Pfizer's research and development centre in Sandwich, Kent look a certainty after the company announced cutbacks to its global R&D operations.
The company employs 12,000 people in R&D worldwide, with just over a quarter of these in Sandwich, the company's European R&D headquarters.
Pfizer says it plans to cut 5-8% of its research workforce, which means 280 jobs could go at the site in Kent, but the company has so far declined to confirm details.
Along with the company's R&D base in Groton/New London in the US, the UK site co-ordinates early-stage research across all therapy areas. As such, this central role means its immediate future is secure.
Pfizer has been streamlining its R&D operations since last autumn, and has withdrawn from a number of therapy areas including: anaemia; bone diseases, liver disease, obesity and the biological causes of arthritis.
The company says its research strategy is evolving and reiterated five key strands to its new approach:
* Aggressively delivering the phase II and phase III portfolio
* Prioritising its portfolio to deliver the most value
* Becoming a top-tier biotherapeutics company
* Dramatically increasing productivity
* Pursuing the best external science
It will now focus on just six areas: oncology, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, pain, inflammation and diabetes. It says these areas have the highest probability of success for Pfizer, address an unmet medical need and have high market growth potential.
A spokesperson for Pfizer UK said it was aware the decision would affect many people, and would give financial and other support to those affected.
In a statement the company added: "It's important to point out that this is an ongoing evolution of Pfizer Global Research and Development and Pfizer as a whole. We continually look for ways to operate our business more effectively and efficiently to create value for all of our constituents."
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