Drug giant GlaxoSmithKline has announced that up to 850 R&D jobs will be cut as it implements its new business strategy. 'We have started consultation on proposals which could impact roles within R&D in the UK and the US,' the company said in a statement.  

The cuts, which are planned specifically in the areas of preclinical and molecular discovery research, will hit chemists in particular. 

GSK went on in its statement: 'We must continue to reshape our R&D operations to take advantage of new scientific opportunities and further improve GSK's productivity. Regrettably some job reductions are necessary and we will do everything we can to support those employees who are affected.'

Last year the company was one of a number of pharmaceutical firms to announce restructuring plans, which included streamlining R&D operations and reducing its sales and marketing workforce to save money in the face of looming patent deadlines and generic competition. 

As this plan has been steadily implemented, the planned swathe of job cuts has been gradually confirmed. Alice Hunt, a spokesperson for GSK, told Chemistry World that these new cuts were a part of this wider strategy, but added that they would be the last for the foreseeable future.

Victoria Gill

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