350 jobs to be saved at Pfizer research centre in Kent

Pfizer who are one of the largest drugs companies in the world has decided  to keep 350 staff at research and development facility in Sandwich, Kent, which invented the best selling drug Viagra. – But 1,500 workers will still get the axe.

It had originally caused outrage from the government when it announced plans to close its research and development facility. But the multinational has said it will retain part of the operation, while closing the rest of the site by the end of 2012.

The company said it hopes that new investors will be attracted to join them at the site now that it has pledged to maintain a presence there. Pfizer said the positions will support the development of products in its mid and late-stage pipeline.

Dr Ruth McKernan, of Pfizer, said: “We are hopeful that by retaining this core group, Pfizer will be the first of many companies to locate on the site. “We remain focused on securing new owners and investment into Discovery Park.”

Dr Annette Doherty, who will take over from Dr McKernan as the new site director at Sandwich, said: "Pfizer's retained pharmaceutical sciences operations at Sandwich will maintain a nucleus of industry leading talent, skills and capabilities in science and technology at the site. "It will be a key part of my role as site director to support the hard work that is being done to find new uses for the site, and continue to support colleagues through the transition as we proceed with our phased exit of the site."

Pfizer to close Sandwich site, home of Viagra

Pfizer Inc is to close its research and development centre in Sandwich in Kent, which employs 2,400 people, dealing a major blow to the UK’s scientific work place. The world's biggest drug maker said on Tuesday it would exit the site over the next 18 to 24 months as part of a global program to create a more focused and sustainable R&D machine.

The closure is the latest in a wave of research cutbacks by large pharmaceuticals, which face a record number of patent expires on big-selling medicines that will slash revenue. The majority of those working at Sandwich will be made redundant, although "several hundred" may be transferred to other Pfizer sites or external partners, the U.S. company said.

"This is a shocking wake-up call," said Colin Blakemore, professor of neuroscience at the University of Oxford. "We must respond to this signal that one of our most important industries no longer has confidence in the future of British science."

Sandwich is Pfizer's biggest R&D facility in Europe and the largest R&D site of any foreign-owned drug maker in Britain. It has been a base for drug discovery at the group since 1954. Business minister, Vince Cable, said the move was "extremely disappointing" and the government would be meeting with Pfizer as a matter of urgency to discuss alternative ways of using the facilities and buildings.

Pfizer insisted the move was no reflection on the workforce or the operating environment in Britain but Linda McCulloch, national officer for the Unite trade union, said it would be "devastating" for the local economy.
The UK has traditionally punched above its weight in drug research, but has been hit in the past year by planned cuts at AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline.

Researchers at Pfizer's large Sandwich site, which resembles a university campus, have been responsible for discovering some of Pfizer's most successful products, including impotence pill Viagra, heart drug Norvasc and HIV/AIDS medicine Celsentri

Please click the following link for more information on where to Buy Viagra.