Layoffs
The staffing changes will focus resources on work that creates the highest impact for patients, according to Genentech. The number of employees affected is unknown, but longtime veteran Vishva Dixit is out.
Follow along as BioSpace tracks job cuts and restructuring initiatives.
For the second time in 2026, the number of biopharma professionals affected by made or projected workforce reductions rose year over year. In May, layoffs spiked nearly 50%, mainly due to Takeda and BioNTech axing a combined 6,360 employees.
It’s not unusual for it to take unemployed biopharma professionals awhile to land new jobs. Three experts discuss when employment gaps are an issue and how to explain them to prospective employers.
Seventeen life sciences businesses awarded Massachusetts tax incentives to add and retain 426 combined jobs hit 10% of that target as of Dec. 31. Three companies, including Novartis, had reported layoffs either last year or this year.
More than half of biotech and pharma job seekers have been looking for their next opportunity for six months or longer, and more than a quarter have searched for over a year, according to a BioSpace LinkedIn poll. Job seekers share their frustrations.
The number of biotech and pharma professionals taking jobs they’re overqualified for is now over 50%, based on a BioSpace LinkedIn poll. A recruiting firm executive discusses the trend, the reasons behind it and why it doesn’t have to derail careers.
Far fewer companies are letting employees go so far in 2026 compared to 2025, but the number of people affected is trending up, especially this month, according to BioSpace tallies.
While Takeda is eliminating 4,500 roles across its global operations, the company has some 2,200 jobs currently open for hiring, for which internal candidates will be prioritized.
While average job postings live on BioSpace have increased year over year for nearly every month of 2026, the number of employees affected by made or planned layoffs by the end of that same period nearly matched what was seen in 2025.
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