AstraZeneca to close Westborough plant
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca will close its manufacturing plant in Westborough in late 2015.
The company’s decision affects about 180 employees and contractors. It it a major economic blow for the town and region as well. The real estate and personal property taxes AstraZeneca pays make it Westborough's largest taxpayer.
Jim Malloy, Westborough town manager, said in an email Thursday morning, "Obviously AstraZeneca has had a large presence in the community since the 1980s and has been a large employer and taxpayer in the community. While their employee base now is less than it has been in the past, there is still a concern for those employees that are losing their jobs.
"We've had discussions with Astra over the past year and assured them we will work with them as much as possible to help facilitate a new owner of the property."
The decision comes “after careful review of our global business strategy and demand forecasts,” AstraZeneca spokeswoman Alisha Martin said in a statement.
The Westborough plant, familiar for its distinctive glass pyramid building on Otis Street, is currently one of three producers of the company’s Pulmicort Respules. AstraZeneca will consolidate manufacture of the medicine to two sites, in Sweden and Australia. The drug, which is inhaled, is used to control and prevent asthma symptoms in young children.
“We did not take this decision lightly, and it was made after careful consideration of our business strategy, market indicators, and the patients and stakeholders we serve globally,” the AstraZeneca statement said.
The company said some of the 180 jobs affected may be eliminated in March, while other positions will continue through the decommissioning of the site at the end of 2015. The company said it will work one-on-one with workers to help them assess opportunities and needs.
“AstraZeneca remains committed to the state of Massachusetts and we continue to have a research and development presence at our sites in Waltham and Cambridge,” the statement said.
Karen J. Chapman, president of the Corridor Nine Area Chamber of Commerce, said in an email Thursday morning: "We consider it a loss to the local business community to have AstraZeneca close their doors. They were a great corporate citizen and partner to the Corridor Nine Chamber. We have complete faith in Westborough’s ability to attract someone to that property and will provide our energetic abilities to help support its next tenant."
The Westborough facility opened 33 years ago. In 2011, the company cut about 145 jobs as part of a company-wide reduction.
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