Singapore: Global pharma giant Roche site in Nutley (New Jersey, USA) will be shut down resulting in 1000 job losses, announced the company. Respective R&D activities will consolidate in Switzerland and Germany.

Commenting on the consolidation, Roche CEO Severin Schwan said, "Our R&D programmes were exceptionally successful over the last 18 months, with 24 out of 28 late-stage clinical trials delivering positive results. The overall number of programs in clinical development has grown substantially. The planned consolidation of our research and early development organization and the refocusing of R&D activities in Switzerland and Germany will free up resources that we can invest in these promising clinical programs while also increasing our overall efficiency." He added, "In its 80-year old history, our Nutley site has made significant contributions to Roche's success. We will do everything we can to find socially responsible solutions for the employees affected by these changes."

Reorganization will enable Roche to keep Group R&D costs stable despite a strong increase in the number of clinical development projects in the last 18 months. The financial outlook for 2012 remains unchanged.

Jean-Jacques Garaud, head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development and member of the Enlarged Corporate Executive Committee, will leave the company on 30 June 2012. Mike Burgess will become acting head of Roche Pharma Research and Early Development.