Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Merck To Close Inspire's Raleigh, NC HQ; Layoffs Begin -- Including CEO


Already the Inspire CEO, Adrian Adams, has been let go.

As Whitehouse Station absorbs this $430 million acquisition, as many as 115 Inspire executives and staffers may be put out of work, either immediately or in the next few months, according to local North Carolina papers (H/T Pharmalot):

. . . .Merck, which on Monday completed its $430 million acquisition of Inspire Pharmaceuticals, has decided to shut down Inspire's headquarters operation in Raleigh.

The move, which is expected to happen before the end of the year, definitely will mean job losses - but it's not clear how many. "We expect some employees will be separated," Merck spokesman Ian McConnell said late Monday. . . .

About 175 Inspire workers, including an estimated 60 in Raleigh, became Merck employees Monday. As a result of the sale, which was announced in February, Inspire shares are no longer traded on Nasdaq.

The job cuts will include top executives. "Several senior leaders are departing in May, and others will depart on dates to be determined as we go through the process of integrating the two organizations," McConnell said. . . .

[Remember that -- as we earlier reported -- Inspire has a line that competes with Fred Hassan's Bausch + Lomb offerings -- see here.] We will keep an eye on the Inspire portfolio, now part of the Durham, NC complex of candidates at Merck.

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