Pfizer UK factory sale welcomed locally

Pfizer’s decision to sell its manufacturing facility in Morpeth, Northumberland, to expanding Indian pharmaceutical company Nicholas Piramal, has been welcomed locally as the sale will help safeguard 450 jobs.

Nicholas Piramal said the acquisition could bring in $350 million (189 million pounds) in outsourcing revenue in supply agreements until 2011. All of Morpeth’s Pfizer employees will become Nicholas Piramal employees.

There were fears for the future of the Morpeth site after Pfizer announced in January last year that the site was no longer needed and would be sold.

Pfizer’s vice-president of global manufacturing, Anthony Madduluna, said: “The Morpeth facility has played an important role in Pfizer’s global manufacturing network and made a significant contribution to our business over the past three years.”

According to the BBC, the director of business and industry at One NorthEast, a development agency, remarked: “The Morpeth plant has played a major part in the prosperity of the local area for many years, employing hundreds of people in high quality, well-paid jobs.

“We were confident that given the cutting-edge processes in this facility and the skilled, dedicated workforce committed to its success, that a buyer could be found.”

“It was vitally important that the world-class plant remained open and One NorthEast and Northumberland County Council worked closely with Pfizer in its global efforts to find a buyer,” he concluded.

Nicholas Piramal said the acquisition would provide a “strategic entry” into Pfizer’s global sourcing network. The company has ambitions to become a gloabal leader in custom manufacturing value pharmaceutical drugs.

Ajay Piramal, the Indian company’s chairman, remarked: “We are proud to have the highly respected Morpeth team aboard. We believe we have an exciting future before us, with Morpeth playing a key role in Nicholas Piramal’s global custom manufacturing organisation network.”

© Adfero Ltd