Pfizer to close UK manufacturing site

US-based pharmaceutical company Pfizer has revealed that over 400 jobs will be lost when it closes its remaining manufacturing operations in Sandwich, UK.

Pfizer confirmed the decision to close the Sandwich plant on 11 September in a press statement, but stressed that the closure was part of its previously announced plans to consolidate its worldwide manufacturing operations to manage global capacity and demand more efficiently.

Pfizer, which employs approximately 90,000 people globally, said earlier in 2007 that it needed to shed more than 10,000 jobs to make cost savings after disappointing FY06 results.

Pfizer's vice-president of manufacturing, Tony Maddaluna, said: "It is with regret that we announce our decision to end manufacturing operations in Sandwich after 53 years. This is the latest in a number of global manufacturing changes to ensure we are operating as efficiently and effectively as possible and able to respond to the challenges of today's business environment."

Pfizer added that it would support staff affected by the decision by redeploying them if possible and insisted that the Sandwich site would continue to serve as one of its four key R&D sites across the globe.