Becker's Hospital Review has reported the following five drug or biotech company layoffs in the last two weeks. They are listed below, beginning with the most recent.
1. Gilead to lay off 20% of sales force after losing patent protection
Now that two of Gilead Science's lucrative, older drugs have lost patent protection, the drugmaker will lay off about 20 percent of its sales team.
2. Merrimack cancer drug flop prompts new round of layoffs
After discontinuing work on its sole drug candidate in a clinical trial, Cambridge, Mass.-based Merrimack Pharmaceuticals will complete another round of layoffs.
3. 4,500 Bayer job cuts will be in Germany
Bayer AG, which previously announced its intent to cut 12,000 positions worldwide, will eliminate about 4,500 of those positions in its home market of Germany.
4. AbbVie to cut 178 jobs in California
North Chicago, Ill.-based AbbVie will lay off 178 workers from its Stemcentrx unit, which the drugmaker acquired for $5.8 billion three years ago.
5. AstraZeneca to cut 94 jobs in UK
AstraZeneca will lay off 94 workers from its campus in the United Kingdom by 2020.