Pfizer will remove about 2% of jobs from here the beginning of next year

NEW YORK (Reuters) – US drug maker Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) plans to reduce its overall workforce by about 2% through retirements and voluntary layoffs this year and early next year, in order to streamline its organizational structure and reduce the cost of employee redundancies. eliminate certain management roles and responsibilities.

Pfizer employs approximately 90,000 people worldwide.

Pfizer spokeswoman Sally Beatty said the job cuts were aimed at "creating a simpler, more efficient structure and avoiding cost savings".

The job cuts were originally reported by CNBC.

This decision follows the announcement this month that Chief Operating Officer Albert Bourla would succeed Ian Read as General Manager in January. The company has also added new responsibilities to several of its senior executives and hired a new chief executive of the digital division.

Pfizer shares rose 1.8% to $ 44.70 in the early afternoon on the New York Stock Exchange. Its shares have risen by about 20% this year, outperforming the Standard & Poors 500 index, up about 4% over the same period.