Pfizer permanently laid off 100 employees at its former Seagen campus in Bothell on Monday as the pharmaceutical giant continues restructuring operations following its $43 billion acquisition of the cancer treatment company.
The layoffs, reported to Washington’s Employment Security Department, affect workers at the Bothell facility that Pfizer acquired when it purchased Seagen in December 2023. A company spokesperson cited productivity improvements and automation as driving factors behind the cuts.
“The company is improving its productivity and efficiency for research and development, along with simplifying the way it works through digital enablement and automation, to deliver the greatest impact for patients,” the spokesperson said. Pfizer declined to specify which roles were eliminated or what assistance is being offered to affected workers.
The job cuts represent the latest restructuring move since Pfizer’s acquisition of Seagen, formerly known as Seattle Genetics. The biotechnology company specialises in cancer treatments and was viewed as key to Pfizer’s oncology expansion strategy.
“With one of the largest investments in Pfizer’s history, we are going all in on cancer with the goal of delivering breakthroughs that drastically improve the lives of people with cancer,” CEO Albert Bourla said when announcing the acquisition.
However, integration has involved significant operational changes. In April 2024, Pfizer halted construction on Seagen’s 270,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Everett, laying off 119 workers in June and shifting production to its North Carolina facility.
As of July, Pfizer employed approximately 1,500 people in the Seattle area. The company’s local presence has fluctuated as it balances acquisition benefits with cost-cutting initiatives aimed at achieving $4.5 billion in net savings by year’s end.
Pfizer reported $63.6 billion in total revenues for 2024, marking 7% operational growth year-over-year. The company has pursued aggressive expansion through acquisitions including Arena Pharmaceuticals, ReViral, and Global Blood Therapeutics alongside the Seagen purchase.
The Bothell layoffs reflect broader pharmaceutical industry trends toward automation and operational efficiency as companies seek to reduce costs whilst maintaining research and development capabilities. For the Seattle biotechnology sector, the cuts underscore how major acquisitions can lead to workforce reductions despite initial promises of growth and investment.
