Manufacturing Daily Summary
Manufacturing Daily Summary: What Happened on October 29, 2026
Manufacturing cuts affect 4,062 biopharma workers
BioNTech accounts for nearly half the tally, while Pfizer and Merck have pledged billions for US research and manufacturing.
Today in brief
BioSpace counted 4,062 employees affected by manufacturing-site cuts at ten biopharma companies through October 28.1 BioNTech’s planned site exits account for 1,860 positions in the tally. Pfizer and Merck have also cut manufacturing jobs.1
The job cuts coincide with large investment commitments. Pfizer pledged $70 billion for US research, development and capital projects, while Merck pledged more than $70 billion for US manufacturing and research and development.1
BioNTech site exits drive nearly half of the manufacturing-cut tally
BioSpace counted 4,062 employees affected by completed or projected manufacturing-site cuts at ten biopharma companies through October 28.1 BioNTech is projected to account for 1,860 positions through planned site exits, including facilities in Germany and Singapore and sites acquired with CureVac.1 BioNTech plans to close its Idar-Oberstein and Marburg facilities by the end of 2027 and its Singapore site in the first quarter of 2027.1
Pfizer’s projected cuts include about 150 employees at its Portage, Michigan, site. The company linked the cuts to lower expected demand for some products made there.1 Merck cut 147 jobs at its Durham, North Carolina, vaccine plant, effective May 1.1 BioSpace’s count excludes contract manufacturers, contract research organizations, tools and services companies, and medical-device firms.1
Five of the ten companies in the tally had announced manufacturing investments of at least $1 billion in the prior three years.1 Industry consultant Caitlin Prendes said companies can reduce older facilities while investing in new sites, where hiring may come later.1 Eric Langer said manufacturing layoffs could continue in 2027 as companies focus more on productivity and costs.1