Boehringer Ingelheim to cut 10 percent of workforce in France

According to French media reports on Monday, Boehringer Ingelheim is cutting around 10 percent of its workforce in France under a reorganisation of its activities in the country. The overhaul will see 197 jobs lost in the company's human health division, with a further 130 eliminated from its animal health segment. However, the company indicated that the reorganisation will also result in the creation of 32 new jobs.

Boehringer Ingelheim indicated that it will first attempt to reduce its workforce through voluntary departures but cautioned that it was too soon to provide a timeline.The plan additionally includes some modification for 180 employment contracts of sales representatives, including 120 employees in the company's French human health division.

Boehringer Ingelheim indicated that it has invested 335 million euros ($381 million) in its animal health unit since acquiring the business from Sanofi last year as part of an asset swap and created 250 jobs. According to a source, the drugmaker indicated that the cuts are necessary to eliminate duplicated positions inherited from the deal.  

The news comes after Boehringer Ingelheim disclosed plans in 2016 to eliminate 725 jobs in the US after a review of its human pharmaceuticals business. Later that year, the company cut 120 positions in the US after terminating small molecule discovery functions at two sites.