| Date | People cut | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 8 | 54 | NJBIZ / New Jersey Department of Labor WARN |
| Feb 27 | 147 | Fierce Biotech |
| Total | 201 |
Merck is cutting 201 positions at its Durham, North Carolina plant as vaccine revenue pressures mount. The pharmaceutical giant is facing the post-COVID normalization of its vaccine business, where the extraordinary demand of 2020-2023 has given way to a more typical market.
At 67,000 employees, 147 cuts barely register as a percentage. But the Durham plant specifically has been a target of consolidation as Merck realigns manufacturing capacity to match normalized demand. The vaccine business cycle is unforgiving: massive investment to meet pandemic demand, followed by overcapacity when the crisis passes.