AstraZeneca to cut 8,000 jobs worldwide

Pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca will cut 8,000 jobs worldwide – with up to 1,500 roles expected to go in the UK.

The second-largest pharmaceutical company in the UK revealed it would shed 3,500 jobs from its research and development teams, some of which are based in Macclesfield, Charnwood near Loughborough and Cambridge. Analysts told the Times the move could lead to the loss of 1,500 UK jobs.

David Brennan, AstraZeneca’s chief executive, said: “As the majority of our employees are in the UK, the US and Europe, you could expect more job cuts there.”

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AstraZeneca will start to outsource more of its research and development, with some of that work expected to go to China.

Brennan added: “Let’s be clear: 2010 is going to be a challenging year.”