Abbott to make research, sales cuts

Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, Illinois) reported that it will cut about 200 drug research jobs and several hundred pharmaceutical sales representatives as part of an ongoing reorganization.

The majority of the 200 scientists and researchers to be cut will come from the company's offices in northern Illinois, the company said.

Abbott has about 7,000 scientists on its global staff of 65,000, according to the Chicago Tribune, which reported the cuts on its web site.

In addition to the research job reductions, several hundred sales reps also will be cut in a move related to Abbott's November acquisition of Kos Pharmaceuticals (Cranbury, New Jersey) for $3.7 billion, and is designed to eliminate sales force duplication. The reductions will be made at both companies.