Roche restructuring early R&D division
Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) is closing its R&D site in Nutley, N.J., and cutting about 1,000 positions as part of a restructuring of its Pharma Research and Early Development division. The site's activities, which include projects in inflammation, cancer and virology, will be consolidated at existing sites in Switzerland and Germany by the end of 2013. Division Head Jean-Jacques Garaud will depart, effective June 30. Mike Burgess, global head of oncology and large molecule research, will take over as acting head of the division. After the restructuring, the division will have about 2,000 employees.
The Nutley site's inflammation projects will be discontinued, except for two programs transferred to Schlieren, Switzerland: a program on irritable bowel disease (IBD) and a program on tolerance induction in autoimmune diseases. Virology assets will be transferred to Basel, Switzerland. The division will also close cancer small molecule research to focus on large molecules at sites in Penzberg, Germany, and Schlieren. Roche said the projects transferred from Nutley will result in 80 total new positions at the Germany and Switzerland sites. The pharma added that it will make additional capacity for the projects by closing individual cardiovascular and metabolic research projects at the German and Swiss sites. Details were not disclosed. ...