Drug maker Pfizer is to shut down its manufacturing operation in Sandwich, Kent, resulting in the loss of about 420 jobs over the next two years.
The firm said the move was part of its worldwide consolidation of manufacturing operations in order to manage global capacity and demand more efficiently, announced in January.
About 3,600 staff are based at the site in Kent, 2,700 of whom are employed in research and development.
Pfizer said it would work closely with other bodies to ‘mitigate the impact on colleagues and the local community’, especially offering support for redeployment or re-training.
Tony Maddaluna, vice-president of Pfizer Global Manufacturing, said: “It is with regret that we announce our decision to end manufacturing operations in Sandwich after 53 years.
“This is the latest in a number of global manufacturing changes, to ensure we are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible,” Maddaluna added.
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