Where The Jobs Aren’t: The Latest Layoff Tally
18 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // December 10th, 2008 // 8:16 am
C is for contraction. C is also for convulsion. Both describe what pharma is experiencing these days. The trend was under way a few years ago, of course, when Merck began eliminating thousands of jobs. But since early last year, the bloodletting has been particularly severe.
Of course, C is for collateral damage, too. This list doesn’t count all the layoffs among supporting firms, vendors and consultants. As one reader reminded us - imagine the layoffs at companies that provide pens, coffee cups, clocks, notepads, baseball caps, tote bags, and backpacks to docs. To quote that loyal reader: “This is not your father’s pharma industry, and never will be again.”
Please note that our list includes both cuts recently made and those forthcoming. Moreover, we included layoffs that were announced during the closing months of 2007, since some had not yet taken place or were just getting under way and are being spread out over time. Have we forgotten anyone? Botched a number? Please tell us, because we will update later today and in coming days*:
1. Pfizer - 10,000 jobs
2. AstraZeneca - 9,000 jobs
3. Merck - 8,400 jobs
4. Bayer - 6,100 jobs
5. Schering-Plough - 5,500 jobs
6. Johnson & Johnson, 5,475 jobs
7. Wyeth - 5,000 jobs
8. Bristol-Myers Squibb - 4,300 jobs
9. Novartis - 4,300 jobs
10. Glaxo - 3,710 jobs
11. Amgen - 2,600 jobs
12. UCB - 2,000 jobs
13. Sanofi-Aventis - 1,980 jobs
14. Abbott Labs - 1,900 jobs
14. Eli Lilly - 1,310 jobs
16. Reliant - 600 jobs
17. PDL BioPharma - 600 jobs
18. King - 520 jobs
19. Almylin - 340 jobs
20. Sepracor - 300 jobs
21. Ligand Pharmaceuticals - 267 jobs
22. West Pharmaceutical - 250 jobs
23. Nycomed - 250 jobs
24. Genentech - 240 jobs
25. Valent - 230 jobs
26. Bradley Pharmaceuticals - 196 jobs
27. Par Pharmaceuticals - 190 jobs
28. Alkermes - 150 jobs
29. Encysive Pharmaceuticals - 150 jobs
30. CV Therapeutics - 143 jobs
31. Neurocrine Biosciences - 130 jobs
32. Theravance - 115 jobs
33. Neurogen - 115 jobs
34. Elan - 114 jobs
35. Nektar Therapeutics - 110 jobs
36. Mylan Labs - 100 jobs
37. WuXi PharmaTech - 100 jobs
38. Exelixis - 78 jobs
39. NitroMed - 70 jobs
40. Acadia - 65 jobs
41. Cytokinetics - 45 jobs
42. Sunesis - 35 jobs
43. Jazz Pharma - 33 jobs
44. Vical - 29 jobs
* We updated on Friday, December 12. Thanks to all who wrote in with additional names and numbers. We added what could be verified and will continue to update as more info is learned. Any supporting data would be helpful, since some companies - especially small companies - release little or no hard numbers about cutbacks.
Michael
How about amylin - 340 jobs
John
Don’t forget Cephalon–they axed 150+ on Dec. 31st, 2007.
Steve
Valeant-120 jobs Nov. 2008
Dan
Vical - approx. 53 jobs
Dan
Verus Pharmaceuticals - ~100 jobs Feb 2008
Two More
Theravance: ~125 jobs, April 2008
Sunesis: 60 jobs, June 2008
Couple More
Cytokinetics: 45 jobs, September 2008
Exelixis: 78 jobs, November 2008
concerned...
Does the 10K Pfizer layoffs include what is anticipated to occur in Jan 2009?
pavlov
Gilead 57 with potential 23 more
ED
Perhaps the industry can give downsized reps to the docs instead of pens, pads, and caps ! Don’t think that is mentioned in the new PhRMA regulations.
Pat
Neurogen Corp., 115 total (70 in Feb, 45 in Apr)
http://nhregister.com/articles/2008/04/10/past_stories/19921392.txt
Bob Stephenson
I was laid off with Valeant Pharmaceuticals Nov.2007 in the Hepatitis Division…85 reps plus all home office, another 25 or so , then in Nov.2008 Valeant laid off the Neuroscience Division, all reps nationwide with home office, approx. 120 total with them….
GRAND TOTAL-230 employees
Trudat
I see high paying jobs posted on popular job sites -
http://www.linkedin.com (professional networking)
http://www.monster.com (keyword job search)
http://www.realmatch.com (matches jobs based on skills)
I dont know why headlines always report doom and gloom.
Capnsaveemm
What about Jazz Pharmaceuticals and Elan??
Howard
Scary article. Do take a look the Canadian BioTechnologist2.0 blog We are working to create a site on careers, employment and tools for our sector in Canada. Do visit and leave a comment.
mike
Was a Pharma Rep for 10 plus yrs and switched to Med Device Capital Equipment and should have left pharma yrs ago.. 90% of the reps out there have had a free ride for so long it’s a joke. They sell nothing but glorified marketing and PR and complain how they should be making even more. If anyone thinks they can sell go Device and you will find out real quick what selling really is. It sure as hell is not pharma !
Jennie
Jazz Pharma had 3 layoffs in 2008 and cut total of 171 jobs from June to December.
LayoffGossip
People always hate to talk about when they are laid off. But as it has become every day’s news headline since Yahoo started it with cutting 1500 of its task force last year, now a need of platform has been in demand where people can express their selves in words how they are feeling about their company, whey the got laid off was that justified or not.
And every thing they want to tell anonymously.And http://www.layoffgossip.com is providing you that platform.