The French pharmaceutical maker Sanofi says it will reduce its research workforce employed in and around Boston, as a result of its acquisition of Genzyme Corporation a year ago. Sanofi confirmed the cuts today in a statement to the industry Web site Fierce Biotech.
Genzyme, headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was acquired by Sanofi last year for some $20 billion. The company, which kept its separate identity within the Sanofi structure, has a large presence in the Massachusetts, with eight separate locations in the state, in addition to its headquarters, listed on its Web site.
The company’s statement did not specify the number of positions eliminated or relocated. “As part of the integration process between Sanofi and Genzyme, R&D activities were reviewed and assessed,” says the statement. “On January 31, 2012, the results of the review of U.S. R&D Genzyme activities were announced, including synergies that unfortunately make some positions redundant.”
Sanofi says in the statement that the company will continue investing and hiring in Massachusetts for its work on multiple sclerosis, as well as its manufacturing functions. Last week, FDA approved the Genzyme plant making the drug Fabrazyme to treat Fabry disease, a rare genetic disorder. Shortages of Fabrazyme had been reported, which the company expects the new plant will help erase over the course of this year.
Read More: Sanofi-aventis Acquires Genzyme in $20.1B Deal
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