Following a business review, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has announced staff reductions of up to 650 employees across its US business, primarily in sales and back-office operations.

These changes are part of global restructuring program, announced by the company in its second-quarter 2018 results, which aims to improve the competitiveness and efficiency of the company’s cost base with savings delivered primarily through supply-chain optimization and reductions in administrative costs. At the same time, GSK says it plans to invest more to support new product launches and research and development.

In total, 450 field sales positions will be cut in the US and 100 positions will be eliminated each at its sites in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

No facilities are being closed, and GSK’s manufacturing operations are not affected by the layoffs.

GSK employs about 15,000 people in the US at nine manufacturing sites and two commercial hubs in North Carolina and Philadelphia.

Source: GlaxoSmithKline