Sandoz Announces First 65 Broomfield Layoffs; Total Of 450 Coming

BROOMFIELD, CO -- Broomfield drug manufacturing company, Sandoz, announced the first 65 layoffs in a two-year scheme to shut down the company's local operations. Sandoz, a subsidiary of Basel, Switzerland-based Novartis, filed a WARN notice with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment on Feb. 6.

The company announced in October of last year that they would be closing the 450-employee plant and moving the entire operation to Wilson, N.C.

Sandoz, with a facility at 2555 West Midway Blvd. has been an employer in Broomfield for more than 40 years. The first layoffs will begin in April, with the entire facility shut down by 2019.

Competition and price erosion in the generic drug market was the reason given by Novartis spokeswoman Sofina Mirza-Reid in an October interview with the Broomfield Enterprise. Broomfield Director of Economic Development Bo Martinez told the Enterprise that Sandoz employees would be eligible for severance packages and job placement help.

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