8000 Layoffs: Novartis Announces Workforce Reduction, Including 680 Job Cuts in Switzerland and USA

Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant, has unveiled plans to streamline its operations, which could result in the layoff of up to 680 employees in its development organization. This move is part of a broader restructuring initiative that may see approximately 8,000 positions eliminated from Novartis’s global workforce of 78,000 employees.

The reduction in the development arm of Novartis, currently comprising around 12,500 individuals, will primarily affect roles related to drug regulations, analytics, and quality assurance. Approximately 440 positions in Switzerland and up to 240 roles in the United States are expected to be impacted over the next two to three years.

This decision aligns with trends in the pharmaceutical industry, with other companies like Roche also implementing job cuts in product development. Novartis aims to optimize efficiency and adapt to evolving market dynamics through these measures.

Despite the reduction in workforce, Novartis remains committed to its development efforts in both Switzerland and the United States. The company intends to reshape its capabilities to access local talent, particularly data scientists and regulatory specialists, in regions like Britain. This strategic realignment underscores Novartis’s ongoing commitment to innovation and its desire to leverage diverse skill sets for future growth.

A spokesperson for Novartis emphasized the company’s dedication to development work in Switzerland, highlighting it as an innovation hub for complex projects. Additionally, the United States continues to play a vital role as a key development hub, with strong representation in global program teams responsible for advancing the company’s medicines pipeline.

Novartis reassured that despite the workforce reduction, it remains focused on delivering innovative healthcare solutions while adapting to the evolving needs of the industry. The company’s changes are designed to reshape its capabilities and access local talent efficiently, ensuring continued progress in drug development and innovation.