Layoffs

In this week’s edition of Movers and Shakers, biopharma companies tap executives to serve in various leadership roles.

According to WARN notices, the two companies will slash a total of 106 jobs starting in March.

Despite the significant amount of finances invested in the Bay Area biotech environment, December and January saw a significant number of job cuts.

Singapore-based ASLAN slashed 30 percent of its staff following a recent mid-stage failure, and California-based Aduro has cut 37 percent of employees.

Vertex fired Chief Operating Officer Ian Smith, who had also been serving as interim chief financial officer since December. The Boston-based company said it promptly launched a comprehensive investigation into the allegations made against Smith with the assistance of an independent external counsel.

uBiome has announced a 10% reduction in staff, amounting to 55 jobs, while Theravance recently announced layoffs of 50 workers. Both companies have a significant presence in San Francisco.

Based in South San Francisco, Five Prime Therapeutics announced that as part of a restructuring program, it will eliminate 41 current jobs, or about 20 percent of its current headcount. The positions cut will be mostly in areas related to research, pathology and manufacturing. The company expects a decrease in net cash this year, with savings coming in 2020.

After conducting a routine research-and-development review, Pfizer is easing away from preclinical biosimilar development. The bottom line is the company is ending five preclinical programs in its biosimilar area and cutting 150 positions.

AstraZeneca has indicated it plans to lay off 210 people in Boulder and Longmont. The reason is the company is consolidating “the biologics manufacturing network in one large-scale drug substance facility” in Frederick, Maryland.

As a valued member of our BioSpace community, we are eager to hear more from you and other readers in 2019. Let us know which topics you want to hear more about.