Biopharma manufacturing cuts slated to affect over 4,000 workers, with BioNTech leading layoffs

Companies investing billions to reshore drug production are trimming staff at manufacturing sites, with ten biotech and pharma firms planning cuts that could affect more than 4,000 employees.

BioNTech faces the largest reduction, targeting 1,860 jobs as it prepares to close several plants. The German biotech plans to shut its Idar-Oberstein and Marburg facilities, eliminating about 440 and 540 positions respectively, and will also close a Singapore site in early 2027, affecting roughly 60 workers.

In addition, BioNTech intends to exit the sites acquired from CureVac, which would remove about 820 roles by the end of 2027. The CureVac acquisition was completed last year in a $1.25 billion all‑stock deal.

These moves reflect a broader trend of underused or idle manufacturing capacity as firms realign operations to support reshoring strategies.