International pharmaceutical firm Pfizer is to cut up to 240 jobs from its UK workforce, it was announced today.
The company said it planned to reduce its global research staff by between 5 per cent and 8 per cent over the coming few months.
Pfizer currently employs between 3,000 to 3,500 workers at its European research and development base in Sandwich, Kent, including some contracted staff.
It is understood cuts could affect between 150 and 240 jobs at the site.
Pfizer said the expected job losses follow its decision to focus its future research on six main areas, including: oncology, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, pain, inflammation and diabetes.
In a statement the company said: "Over the next several months, we will reduce our Pfizer global research staff by five to eight percent to better align our colleague base with our refocused research efforts. These reductions will affect research sites globally.
"We are aware that this decision will affect a number of people - colleagues, their families and the community. We are committed to supporting our colleagues through this transition."
Consultation with UK staff began yesterday.