BOTHELL – About 80 biotechnology workers will lose their jobs by the year’s end as GlaxoSmithKline shuts down a local laboratory working on vaccines and biodefense research.
The British-based pharmaceutical company notified local workers of the decision Wednesday, said spokeswoman Patricia Seif.
Glaxo took over the laboratory last December in its $1.4 billion acquisition of ID Biomedical, which operated in both Vancouver, B.C., and Bothell. At that time, the company made it clear it planned to either sell or relocate the local facility.
That’s because Glaxo mainly bought ID Biomedical to strengthen its place in the flu vaccine market. ID Biomedical had a vaccine production plant in Quebec, Canada, which just won Food and Drug Administration approval to produce flu shots for the U.S.
Seif said the company tried to find a buyer for the Bothell lab, but it was unable to do so. Other programs there have been relocated.
“Much of what was related to ID Biomedical there was moved to other sites within (Glaxo),” she said.
She said the workers’ jobs will be done by the end of the year. Glaxo will provide severance packages and job transition help, she added.
Last year, Glaxo also laid off more than 100 workers after buying Seattle-based Corixa Corp.
Glaxo’s decision to close the Bothell lab comes on the heels of Eli Lilly’s announcement last week that it’s buying Bothell-based ICOS Corp., which has been the region’s largest independent biotech firm. Lilly has warned that the majority, if not all, of ICOS’ 500 local employees could lose their jobs as a result of that takeover.
Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.
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