Merck & Co expects the initial phases of restructuring in the wake of its merger with rival drug-maker Schering-Plough to result in savings of about $2.7 billion in 2012 toward the $3.1 billion target.
As a result of the merger, workforce is planned to be reduced by 15 % or about 15,000 jobs and plans have been announced to close research and manufacturing sites:
Manufacturing Divisions
1. Comazzo, Italy;
2. Cacem, Portugal;
3. Azcapotzalco, Mexico;
4. Coyoacan, Mexico,
5. Santo Amaro, Brazil,
6. Mirador, Argentina (intends to sell),
7. Miami Lakes, Florida (intends to sell),
In Singapore, chemical manufacturing will be phased out at the legacy Merck site, but it will continue at the legacy Schering-Plough site. The company’s extensive pharmaceutical manufacturing operations will continue at these two Singapore facilities.
Research Laboratories (phase out operations planned over the next two years):
1. Montreal, Canada;
2. Boxmeer (Nobilon facility only), Netherlands;
3. Oss, Netherlands;
4. Schaijk, Netherlands;
5. Odense, Denmark;
6. Waltrop, Germany;
7. Newhouse, Scotland;
8. Cambridge (Kendall Square), Massachusetts, U.S.
The new network will be comprised of 16 major research and development facilities worldwide. Merck will retain clinical development and regulatory affairs expertise in major regions around the world including the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Japan.
