Amgen, a biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Thousand Oaks, Calif., will lay off 200 research and development workers by the end of the year, according to STAT.
The job cuts will impact employees at its Thousand Oaks and South San Francisco facilities. Company officials cited "organizational changes" in its R&D departments as the reason for the job cuts.
"Given the dynamic nature of our business and the need to ensure greater flexibility across our organization, we must continue to be increasingly efficient in our operational discipline and invest our resources in a way that ensures our continued scientific leadership," an Amgen spokesperson told Endpoints News. "The organizational changes [announced] last week are designed to support those efforts. As always, in making these difficult decisions we are committed to treating our staff with respect and compassion."
The announcement comes eight months after Amgen moved 100 R&D positions from its headquarters to other facilities in San Francisco and Cambridge, Mass.
In addition, Geoffery Porges, a Leerink analyst, acknowledged that Amgen faces increased competition for three of its medications, along with pricing pressures and pipeline risks.