California
Biopharmas that announced Series B financing this year and are looking for employees as they grow include two companies that received $100 million or more. One has partnerships with three Big Pharmas.
For the second time in 2026, the number of biopharma professionals affected by made or projected workforce reductions rose year over year. In May, layoffs spiked nearly 50%, mainly due to Takeda and BioNTech axing a combined 6,360 employees.
California life sciences jobs declined 1.8% last year, according to the new California Life Sciences sector report. While National Institutes of Health funding and venture capital investment rose, their growth slowed from the previous year.
While average job postings live on BioSpace have increased year over year for nearly every month of 2026, the number of employees affected by made or planned layoffs by the end of that same period nearly matched what was seen in 2025.
Looking for a biopharma job in California? Check out the BioSpace list of 17 companies hiring life sciences professionals like you.
Gilead is laying off Arcellx employees in California and Maryland, with some cuts effective this year and the remainder happening in 2027.
Opportunities increased by the end of the first quarter, according to BioSpace data.
Six biotechs based in California, Massachusetts, Washington and Denmark had to halt drug development efforts this year. One of their CEOs is now in an interim chief executive role at another biotech.
The trend of fewer companies letting employees go, which began in the fourth quarter of last year, has continued. However, more employees were on the chopping block in Q1 2026 than in Q1 2025, due mainly to one company’s cuts.
Looking for a clinical job? Check out the BioSpace list of 11 companies hiring life sciences professionals like you.
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