Citing a need to increase efficiencies, Bayer AG will lay off 227 employees at its manufacturing facility in Berkeley, Calif., according to the San Francisco Business Times.
The layoffs, most of which occurred Oct. 3, were primarily due to Bayer's need to enable manufacturing efficiencies at the plant to remain competitive.
The drugmaker is also establishing a new drug manufacturing plant in Germany and shifting many hemophilia A patients to its latest next generation drug, according to the Business Times.
Bayer has already removed 200 jobs throughout the year, using voluntary buyouts, to prepare for its shifting hemophilia strategy.
Since the drugmaker received approval for its latest, long-acting hemophilia treatment, Bayer has been phasing out Kogenate — its main hemophilia A drug manufactured in Berkeley. While Bayer is phasing out this product in certain countries, it will still be avilable to patients for several years.
Affected employees will receive 60 days of pay and benefits and on Dec. 3 eligible laid off workers will get two weeks of separation pay per year worked at Bayer plus career counseling and other "separation benefits," a Bayer spokesperson said. The plans vary for salaried and union-represented employees.