90 MSD job losses 'sadly unavoidable', says company

on 03/10/2012 16:53:22

Global healthcare company Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) is to cut its workforce by up to 90 over the next six months.

MSD said it was making the cuts at its facility in Brinny, Co Cork because of a fall in demand for products from the site.

Matt Corcoran, MSD site manager, said the announcement was extremely challenging news for all staff to take in.

"We have committed substantial resources to investigate all elements of our business operations to identify potential cost savings, but reducing workforce was necessary and sadly unavoidable for the site to stay competitive," he said.

"Our immediate priority now is to work with and support all our employees during the consultation process."

MSD employs 2,300 people in Carlow, Cork, Dublin, Tipperary and Wicklow and produces prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, consumer care and animal health products.

Staff at the Brinny plant, known as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient and sterile manufacturing centre of expertise in the helathcare industry, were briefed today.

The facility opened in 1980 and has 455 people employed there.