Pfizer plans closure of two UK sites

PFIZER has announced the proposed closure of two UK facilities, the Hospira UK (Aseptic Services) compounding site at Park Royal in North London, and its packaging and distribution site in Havant.

The Park Royal site, which employs around 100 people, will close first, with Pfizer planning to cease production by May 2017 and exit the site completely by August 2017, although this is subject to consultation. Pfizer acquired the site, which produces patient-specific and batch products for chemotherapy, centralised IV additive service (CIVAS), monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), pain management and parenteral nutrition, when it bought Hospira in 2015. Pfizer says that it decided to close the site on the basis that it is “an ageing facility which will require significant investment in the near future, and due to the expiration of the building lease.” All employees at the site will be offered the chance to apply for jobs elsewhere within the business.

The site in Havant will close by 2020, with all work transferring to a Pfizer facility in Puurs, Belgium. The company says that the 270 staff at the site will be supported throughout the process and that it will do all it can to mitigate job losses. It hopes to sell the site as an ongoing pharmaceutical manufacturing facility, but will work with UK development authorities to find alternative uses for the site if it cannot be sold. Pfizer says that the decision to close the site was taken after “comprehensive review” of its cold chain packaging and distribution network.

“The proposed decision to exit these sites is not a reflection of the excellent work performed by our colleagues. It is important to note that these proposals are in no way related to the result of the Brexit decision,” the company said.