Jobs losses are to be expected at AstraZeneca’s facility in Södertälje, Sweden.

Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals company AstraZeneca has announced it is to axe 1,400 jobs by 2013 and close three factories as part of a supply chain realignment effort.

The company said it will cease operations at facilities in Spain, Belgium and Sweden, whilst jobs will also be affected in the UK.

The restructuring will see AstraZeneca further invest in its Wuxi plant in China, so that the site can be set up as a packing centre for the Asia Pacific region. The company already has packing operations in Europe and Latin America.

David Smith, Executive Vice President Operations, AstraZeneca, commented: “These moves are a continuation of AstraZeneca’s programme to improve the organisation’s productivity and efficiency. It moves the supply process closer to the customer, responding to their requirements and improving the security of the product wherever it is bought.

“I realise these changes are difficult for our affected employees, with whom we will be consulting in the coming months. We believe these changes are necessary for the long-term strength of the business.”

In another statement made today (20 November), AstraZeneca said it had won a temporary court order halting rival company Teva from selling a generic version of its Pulmicort asthma drug. The future of the case will be decided in a court hearing to commence 12 January 2009.

For more information on AstraZeneca and its products, visit: www.astrazeneca.com

By Natasha Piscitelli