Sanofi to cut 99 jobs at sites in Ghent and Diegem

French pharmaceutical group Sanofi intends to cut 99 jobs at its sites in Ghent and Diegem. The plan is part of a global restructuring strategy, declared the company.

Flemish newspaper De Tijd reported that Sanofi intends to cut 67 jobs at its site in Ghent, while 32 jobs are at risk at Sanofi’s Belgian headquarters in Diegem. The French pharmaceutical group, which employs about 1,600 people in Belgium, confirmed the plan and stated that it forms part of its global restructuring strategy.

The company declared that it needs to adapt its way of working and further modernise its organisation "to become a world leader in immunology". It will focus on the development of new vaccines and medicines in immunology that "can be the first or best in their domain and really make a difference for patients".

"We currently have 12 new medicines and vaccines in the clinical development stage that could become promising new treatments for immune-related conditions," the company explained. “This is particularly costly and so we temporarily need to save money elsewhere.” A number of early-stage research activities in Ghent will be discontinued as a result.

Sanofi says it is looking at all possible solutions for employees whose jobs may be affected. According to the company, the restructuring will mainly impact scientific profiles in the labs and related jobs.

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