Drug maker GlaxoSmithKline PLC said Tuesday that it has begun consultations with workers on cutting jobs at a British research facility, an early step in its plans announced a week ago to shift its research focus.
Glaxo said the consultation involved possible cuts at its facility in Harlow, 25 miles (40 kms) northeast of London. The company did not say how many jobs were involved, but Press Association, the British news agency, said it could be as many as 380 of the 1,150 workers at the facility.
The Harlow center was formerly the headquarters of SmithKline Beecham, which was taken over by Glaxo a decade ago.
Chief Executive Andrew Witty said last week that Glaxo would discontinue research in some areas including depression and pain, and would focus more on degenerative and inflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
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The company currently employs 99,000 people worldwide.