Pfizer culls 6000 production jobs worldwide

New York – Pfizer Global Manufacturing is to exit eight manufacturing sites, in Ireland, Puerto Rico, and the US, by the end of 2015, and downsize operations at six other plants, in Germany, Ireland, Puerto Rico, the UK and the US. The plan will involve 6000 jobs losses (about 20% of its global workforce) is in response to competitive pressures.

The restructure of Pfizer’s 78-plant global network is to create “a fully aligned manufacturing and supply organization from the combined networks of Pfizer and Wyeth,” said the company. The plan is the first phase of its previously announced Plant Network Strategy, and follows an evaluation of sites that manufacture aseptic (injectable), soliddose, and biotechnology medicines, as well as consumer healthcare products.

The closures will increase manufacturing efficiency and lower costs by more effectively using resources and technology,
improving plant processes, eliminating excess capacity, and better aligning production with market demand, said Pfizer.

“The restructuring of our global plant network is critical to our efforts to remain competitive so that we can continue to meet
patient needs and expand the access and affordability of our medicines,” said Nat
Ricciard, Pfizer global manufacturing president.

Pfizer plans to discontinue manufacturing operations over the next 18 months to five years at three solid-dose sites that
manufacture tablets and capsules: Caguas in Puerto Rico; Loughbeg in Ireland; and Rouses Point, NY, in the US. It also plans to phase out pharmaceutical solid-dose manufacturing at Guayama, Puerto Rico, and that site will expand its Consumer Healthcare operations.

Two aseptic facilities that make sterile injectable medicines are targeted for closure: Dublin, Ireland; and Carolina, Puerto Rico.
Reductions are planned at two other solid-dose facilities: Illertissen, Germany and Newbridge, Ireland.

Despite growth in its biotechnology portfolio, Pfizer’s also proposes changes at its sites that manufacture vaccines and large-molecule medicines. These include exiting operations in Shanbally, Ireland, as well as biotechnology manufacturing in Pearl River, NY, in the US. Plants in Sanford, North Carolina, and Andover, Massachusetts, and Havant, UK, will also see reductions.

Pfizer plans to cease production of consumer healthcare products at its US plants in Richmond, Virginia., and Pearl River. The Pearl River site will remain Pfizer’s Center of Excellence for Vaccine Research and Development, as previously
announced. Consumer Healthcare R&D also will continue in Richmond.

Pfizer’s solid-dose network will include plants in Freiburg, Germany; Amboise, France; Vega Baja and Barceloneta, Puerto Rico; Ascoli, Italy; Newbridge, Ireland; and Illertissen, Germany. Plants in Puurs, Belgium; Perth, Australia; Catania, Italy; and
Kalamazoo, Michigan will make up the aseptic network.

The biotechnology network will consist of sites in Grange Castle, Ireland; Strangnas, Sweden; Algete (Madrid), Spain; Havant,
UK; and Andover, Massachusetts. and Sanford, North Carolina.

The Consumer Healthcare network will include plants in Guayama, Puerto Rico; Montreal, Canada; Albany, Georgia; Aprilia, Italy; Hsinchu, Taiwan; and Suzhou, China.

Evaluations of Pfizer’s Animal Health manufacturing sites are presently underway. Recommendations are expected by the end of June. Studies of the Nutrition and Emerging Markets plant networks will begin later this year.