Biotech firms Genentech, Sanofi laying off hundreds at South San Francisco locations

Biotech giants Genentech and Sanofi are laying off hundreds of workers at their facilities in South San Francisco.

The San Francisco Business Times reported Genentech's parent company Roche would trim 3% of jobs across several departments, numbering 436 employees. The San Francisco Chronicle reported the cuts, expected to begin June 5 would come from Genentech's headquarters and commercial production facility at 1 DNA Way in South San Francisco.

The company will maintain clinical supply production and research and development facilities at its sprawling South San Franciso campus.

Earlier this year, Genentech's Vacaville manufacturing facility was purchased by Swiss firm Lonza. The moves are part of the evolving landscape of biotech focusing on individualized medicines for smaller patient populations and moving large-scale commercial manufacturing to other facilities.

"We regularly evaluate our operations to ensure we remain well-positioned to meet the needs of patients today while continuing to deliver innovative new medicines in the future," said the company in a prepared statement.

France-based Sanofi also announced the closure of its South San Francisco facility at 2 Tower Place just west of U.S. Highway 101. The closure, which will impact about 100 employees, follows the decision by the company to sell off cancer drug company Amunix Pharmaceutical which it acquired in 2021 for $1.2 billion.

The Chronicle reported the layoffs are scheduled to start June 3 and continue until the company ends its U.S. operations on Sept. 16.