The drugmaker’s Boulder facility will lose almost 20 percent of its 359-strong workforce, which is involved in drug development and manufacturing. A Roche spokesman tells The Rocky Mountain Business News that work involving small molecule meds is being scaled back in favor of products involving highly active compounds and peptides, which are used in the Fuzeon HIV treatment that Roche makes at the facility.

“It’s part of Roche’s global strategy,” says the spokesman. “And in that strategy we’ve been targeted as a center of excellence for peptides.” The job cuts, he adds, will affect all departments, but he was vague about whether the move could eventually lead to job gains. “We’re very confident this is a solid business plan for our site…and will keep us strong for the future.”