Pfizer, the world’s largest drug company is to announce the closure of its UK manufacturing plant, with the loss of 420 jobs.
The New York-based pharmaceutical firm which makes Viagra and cholesterol-fighter Lipitor said the closure of the plant based in Sandwich, Kent was the result of the ongoing consolidation of its global manufacturing operations.
The plant makes the active ingredients for medicines such as the antifungal drug Diflucan and products used in specialist veterinary medicines.
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 effectively as possible.”
The decision ends 53 years of manufacturing at the plant; however Sandwich will continue to house one of Pfizer’s four key global research and development programmes.
This operation, which employs around 3,000 people, will remain unaffected by the decision.
Pfizer said the redundancies would be made over the next two years.
They said that its priority will be to support colleagues affected by this decision, including redeployment where possible, as well as supporting colleagues with training for internal and external recruitment.
September 12 2007