Pfizer Announces More Layoffs in Pearl River

Another 151 workers will be laid off at Pfizer's Pearl River plant between now and the end of October, as its vaccine manufacturing operation winds down, The Journal News reports.

Pfizer will keep about 700 employees in a small section of its North Middletown Road campus, where 4,000 people worked in 2010, according to TJN. They work in its oncology production and research and development operations.

Industrial Realty Group, LCC, a nationwide real estate development and investment firm, bought more than 2 million sq. ft. and 200 acres of the campus in November 2015.

The plan — in the early stages — envisions a mixed use, multi-tenant campus. To learn more about the vision for the site, visit www.pearlriverproject.com.

IRG bought roughly 38 buildings that are now laboratory, pharmaceutical manufacturing, office and support buildings.

Pfizer retained 500,000 sq. ft. and also leased back about 1.2 million sq. ft. from IRG.

The site has rich historical value beginning with Dr. Ernst Lederle’s production of diphtheria antitoxins. Throughout the years, vaccines for smallpox, typhoid, and pneumonia were developed on the property; advancements which changed the landscape of modern healthcare and the pharmaceutical industry throughout the world.

The Pearl River biotechnology manufacturing plant began operating in 1907. It produced vaccines and medicines, including Prevnar for invasive pneumococcal disease vaccine for infants/toddlers and Mylotarg for cancer treatment. The consumer health care manufacturing plant began operating in 1978 and was the primary U.S. supplier of Centrum dietary supplements.