Layoffs

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.

Selecta Biosciences announced that as part of restructuring efforts it is cutting its current workforce by 36 percent. The company believes that the cuts, along with a reprioritization of its pipeline, will decrease its yearly cash burn by 19 percent.

Over the past decade, BMS has been no stranger to flexing its M&A muscle. The company made numerous focused-acquisitions that have positioned itself as a leader in oncology. BMS CEO Giovanni Caforio noted that the massive deal for Celgene is another piece to that puzzle.

Traditionally, Genentech has tended to operate with less hands-on scrutiny from the business bean counters at its Swiss Roche headquarters. These more recent job cuts suggest those days may be over.

As we look back over the year, we noticed some stories just grabbed readers more than others. Here’s a look at the top 10 stories of the year, including job cuts, best-selling drugs, up-and-coming companies,scandals, clinical trials, and more.

More pharma workers in France are receiving coal in their stockings this year after Germany-based Boehringer Ingelheim announced plans to cut about 300 jobs in that country as part of a reorganization of its operations in France.

Some French employees of drug giant Sanofi will receive an unwanted Christmas present this year – pink slips. The company will lay off 670 employees in France on what has been reported as a “voluntary basis.”