Novartis Planning Layoffs for 550 Positions at Switzerland Facility
Key Takeaways
- Novartis plans to cut 550 jobs in Switzerland by 2027, ceasing production of certain drug products and sterile packaging.
- An $80 million investment in Schweizerhalle aims to boost RNA treatment production, creating 80 new jobs by 2028.
Novartis is planing layoffs in Switzerland, along with plans to invest $80 million to enhance RNA treatment production and create new jobs by 2028.
Layoffs are looming in Switzerland as Novartis announces its plans to cut upwards of 550 full-time positions by the end of 2027.1The layoffs are expected to take place at one of Novartis’ Swiss-based pharmaceutical sites.
Why is Novartis planning layoffs?
Novartis stated that the cuts are part of the company’s plan to end production of select drug products such as capsules and tablets along with ending the packaging of sterile medicines.1
Along with Novartis’ restructure of its Swiss facility, the company also announced that it is planning to invest $80 million in its production facility in Schweizerhalle, right outside of Basel, Switzerland.1This investment is expected to generate upwards of 80 new positions by the end of 2028.1
The $80 million investment aims to boost the facility’s production of RNA treatments.
In the Reuters report, Steffen Lang, president of operations at Novartis, touched on the company’s recent announcements, mentioning that recent plans are not connected to the
"We continue to invest in Switzerland, and our sites here still produce for over 120 countries,” he said in the report.1
Other cuts
In March, Novartis announced plans to reduce its workforce by 427 positions at its New Jersey- based headquarters.
According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification from the state of New Jersey, the company also planned to cut another 60 employees at its headquarters beginning late this month.2
Novartis reinforces its plans to expand US-based manufacturing
The company is continuing its planned $23 billion investment in US-based manufacturing sites, as it recently announced a
The hub is expected to include two new facilities prioritizing biologics production and sterile packaging, along with increasing services available at its current Durham plant, such as gene therapy production, and expanding services to include the sterile filling of biologics into syringes and vials.
Novartis’ North Carolina expansion will also include a plant in Morrisville containing a facility designed for solid dosage tablets and capsule production, along with including a packaging process.
“This announcement is a commitment to American innovation and to the patients we serve,” said CEO Vas Narasimhan.3 “By building a full, end-to-end manufacturing presence in North Carolina for our broader portfolio, we are expanding our capacity to deliver medical breakthroughs, securing a more resilient US supply chain, and investing in the local communities that make our mission possible.”
References
1. Novartis plans to cut up to 550 jobs at Swiss facility Reuters.November 25, 2025
2. New Jersey Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification 2025 Warn Notices. Accessed November 25, 2025
3. Novartis plans to expand its US-based manufacturing and R&D footprint with a total investment of $23B over the next 5 years Novartis. April 10, 2025
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