550 jobs cut at AstraZeneca in Delaware

The pharmaceutical giant plans to cut 550 from its workforce in Wilmington. The news has a major impact on the region. If you work at Astra Zeneca or someone who will be impacted by the news, please share your story in our comments section.

New details are coming out on the global reorganization of  pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca announced earlier this year.   The company plans to eliminate 550 jobs at it’s North American headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.

AstraZeneca spokesman Tony Jewell says the job cuts will be implemented over the next two years as the company ends research on a number of diseases, “With the goal of making sure that we can deliver medicines to patients as quickly and efficiently as possible in those disease areas where they are most needed.”  He says the company will end drug research in areas like acid reflux, ovarian and bladder cancers, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety.

Globally,the company plans to cut 3,500 research and development positions by 2014, while adding positions in other areas.  The total impact will result in a net reduction of about 1,800 positions.  Jewell says some workers will be able to be retrained and possibly relocated.  “We’re committed to treating every employee with respect through the process, and we’re going to make every effort whenever possible to lessen the impact by redeploying them, and in some cases offer relocation to affected employees.”

Jewell says Wilmington will remain the company’s U.S. headquarters.  “Any medicine that is going through the FDA process as we prepare to bring it to market, in North America, that’s going to be done here in Wilmington.”

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Are you or someone you know impacted by the AstraZeneca cuts?  Tell us your story in the comments below.