Pfizer Lays Off 210 Workers in North Carolina Following Discontinuation of Duchenne Gene Therapy

1. Layoffs: Pfizer is laying off at least 210 workers in Lee and Nash counties, North Carolina, following the discontinuation of its Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy program.
2. Facilities Affected: The layoffs include 150 positions in Sanford and 60 in Rocky Mount.
3. Reason for Layoffs: The layoffs are a result of the failed clinical trial for the muscular dystrophy treatment and lower projected demand for other products.
4. Facility Changes: The Rocky Mount facility will decommission certain manufacturing lines and transition to new product lines, while the Sanford site will cease certain operations.
5. Impact on Business: The company is shifting to a contract manufacturer for a portion of its business.
6. Previous Investments: Pfizer had invested at least $1.4 billion in North Carolina and employed at least 4,000 workers in the state.
7. Recent Developments: Pfizer recently won FDA approval for a hemophilia treatment, but it is unclear if this will impact operations in the state.
8. Cost-Slashing Efforts: The layoffs are part of a broader cost-slashing effort by Pfizer, which has been shutting facilities elsewhere in the Triangle.