At least 150 jobs could be cut at the Sandwich site of drug giant Pfizer.
The company is slashing between five and eight per cent of its research staff across the world, meaning that the Kent site, which has 3,000-3,500 workers, could lose more than 200 posts.
The move reflects a new strategy which focuses research on six high-priority areas: oncology, Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia, pain, inflammation and diabetes.
These have the highest possibility of success for Pfizer. They also address an unmet medical need and have high market growth potential.
Other areas of research, including cardiovascular disease, are being dropped.
A spokesman from Pfizer said: “Over the next several months we will reduce our Pfizer global research by five to eight per cent to better align our colleague base with our refocused research efforts.
“These reductions will affect research sites globally.
“We are aware that this decision will affect a number of people – colleagues, their families and the community.
“We are committed to supporting our colleagues through this transition. Pfizer does not make these decisions lightly.”
Between 3,000 and 3,500 people work at the Sandwich site, many of them in temporary posts.
The spokesman said: “Not all the staff work in the research site and not all are permanent, so I can’t give an exact figure as to how many will go – this would be inaccurate.”
Thanet South MP Steve Ladyman has spoken of his disappointment at the announcement.
“We can ill-afford to lose any quality jobs and I am saddened that a site that has made such a huge contribution to Pfizer’s fortunes is again going to see job cuts.
“One job lost is one too many, and each and every lost job will be a tragedy for the person and family affected.
“The only positive thing to come out of this announcement is that all the areas of research carried out at Sandwich have been identified as going forward and the site has been identified as an important player in Pfizer’s overall strategy and is safe going into the future.”
Dr Ladyman said he had been in touch with the site leader to stress the need to keep as many of the job losses as possible voluntary or through ‘natural wastage’.
He said: “I am also arranging an urgent face-to-face meeting with the site management to stress the importance of Pfizer minimising the number of people who are to go locally and for them to work with the local agencies and the individuals concerned to find new jobs for people to go to.
“The Job Centre and the Department for Business and Regulatory Reform have all been notified and the full resources of these agencies will be in place to help anyone affected.”
A 90-day consultation with staff affected by the job cuts has started.
POSTED: 14/01/2009 12:32:19
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