Drug companyPfizerhas announced it is to close
down its last pharmaceutical-ingredients manufacturing plant in the
UK with the loss of 420 jobs, including 30 IT roles related to
process automation and business systems support.
Pfizer said the decision to phase out its manufacturing plant at
Sandwich in Kent after 53 years is part of the company's plans to
consolidate worldwide manufacturing operations. Operations at the
plant will be phased out over the next two years. Pfizer said
affected staff would be redeployed where possible.
However, the company said its research facility at Sandwich,
which employs 3,000 people, was not affected by the decision and
would remain one of Pfizer's four key global research and
development programmes.
Tony Maddaluna, vice-president of Pfizer Global Manufacturing
said: "This is the latest in a number of global manufacturing
changes, to ensure we are operating as efficiently and effectively
as possible."