It Is Not Just Merck. Pfizer, BMS, Bayer And Yes, Moderna... Are Currently Laying Off Workers, Too.

This is my second power alley post of the day; my apologies. Various reports in the bioscience trade mags indicate that Moderna is laying off about 800 workers, or about 10% of its global workforce.

And Merck's layoffs -- as we've previously said... are not about cost-cutting per se (you cannot "save your way to greatness"), but more a case of "retro-fitting" the work force to where the company's demand for first rate science help will be most productive and profitable. Here's the latest on the other WARN Act notices, all as layoff announcements come through at Rahway (58 positions, and rising, as of this afternoon -- slated to be effective in November of 2025):

. . .Merck isn’t the only Big Pharma company undergoing a significant [force reduction] effort. Over the last two years, Bayer has reduced its headcount by more than 12,000 under an initiative designed to save 2 billion euros ($2.3 billion) through 2026.

Bristol Myers Squibb has launched a “strategic productivity initiative,” which will slash $2 billion in costs through 2027. In April, Pfizer upped the ante on its cost-cutting program, aiming to save $7.7 billion through 2027. . . .

Now you know. Onward, resolutely.

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