Pfizer to restructure animal health unit

Pfizer Animal Health is to move 20 of its positions to a new location early in 2009, according to reports.

Bringing its total workforce in the Michigan, US town of Kalamazoo to over 550, the 20 jobs will move from Pfizer’s current genetics laboratory in Harahan, Louisiana.

The Kalamazoo Gazette quoted Pfizer spokesperson Rick Chambers as saying that the lab, which was acquired earlier in the year, would close and the animal health jobs would move as a result.

Some $30 million (17.23 million pounds) is set to be spent on the new location, he added.

Meanwhile, the company announced recently it had completed the acquisition of various product franchises from Schering-Plough.

These include Rabdomun, a Rabies vaccine, the Gletvax swine E.coli vaccines and the anti-inflammatory product Quadrisol 100.

Pfizer Animal Health said the acquisition was now finished and had been approved by the European Commission.

Albert Bourla, the company’s area president for Europe, Africa and the Middle East said: “Pfizer now has the most in-depth coverage of therapeutic areas in Europe and the most highly recognised brands in the industry.”

Approximately 116 million euros (90.19 million pounds) was paid for the portfolio which adds both pharmaceutical and biological products across species such as equine and companion animals.