Shire Pharmaceuticals is closing its Baltimore manufacturing plant and axing 260 workers in the process, claiming the move is part of the company’s strategy and not a result of the economic downturn.

The kinda good news is that the layoffs won’t all happen at once – the company will do a phase-out of its drugs over three years while it transfers its manufacturing to a different plant in North Carolina. The global biopharmaceutical giant will start to get away from manufacturing drugs itself and instead start to rely on CMOs.

Here was Shire spokesman Matt Cabrey’s comments on the axes:

“Our strategy at Shire, in short, does not include in-house manufacturing. The decision is in no way related to the economic downturn in the U.S. or the global economy. It is strictly related to the strategy that Shire has in place for…growth.”

The plant is based in Owings Mills, MD, a small suburb just outside Baltimore. No word was given regarding job placement or severance.

The bloodbath continues.

Image from albatherapeutics

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