US biotech – and Sanofi subsidiary – Genzyme has confirmed plans to close its R&D site in Cambridge, UK, by the end of 2012 putting 60 jobs under threat. The firm started the consultation process back in November 2011, when it said it was looking to consolidate its R&D structure geographically at four research hubs: one in Germany, one in France, one in Boston, US, and one somewhere in Asia. Sanofi says that it ‘remains committed to keeping its strategic presence in the UK’. It adds that it is ‘looking at options to minimise the number of job losses, either through transfer of roles within the Sanofi group or through assisting impacted employees in finding alternative employment’. The two other UK sites – a manufacturing site in Haverhill and an R&D site in Oxford – will remain.

French drug maker Sanofi bought Genzyme in February 2011 for $20 billion in one of the biggest biotech deals the industry has seen.

Are you affected by the closure? Let us know what you think…

Andrew Turley

                  

Source:
http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/?feed=rss2