Novartis is bringing the ax
down on close to 400 R&D jobs at its respiratory R&D center in West
Sussex in the U.K., signaling that the restructuring is part of a broader
global realignment.
The pharma giant hammered the
British community two years ago when it eliminated a major manufacturing
operation in Horsham. But the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research had
committed to keeping its research work going and last fall discussed a major
upgrade for the site. Today, though, it confirmed that it will shutter the
complex, where investigators concentrated on respiratory programs.
"Novartis UK is today
announcing that it will initiate consultation on proposals to close its Horsham
site in West Sussex," Novartis said in a statement to FierceBiotech.
"These proposals will impact up to 371 roles, but will be subject to an
employee consultation process and final UK board approval."
