Merck's Pennsylvania plant to close; 163 layoffs planned

A pharmaceutical company, Merck, is set to close a plant in Pennsylvania by 2026. This closure will lead to the layoffs of 163 employees. The Cherokee Pharmaceuticals facility, which is a subsidiary of Merck, is located in Riverside, Northumberland County. The plant produced active pharmaceutical ingredients for some of Merck's antibiotic products. Merck stated that it is closing the facility due to a significant decrease in demand for these products. Layoffs are expected to start in May 2025, with the plant finalizing its closure in late 2025 or early 2026. Merck reassured that it is committed to supporting the affected employees during this transition. The company, which has about 14,000 workers in Pennsylvania, emphasized its ongoing investment in the state, totaling over $3 billion to date. The layoffs were announced under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. This federal law requires companies to notify employees and the state about significant layoffs or plant closures at least 60 days in advance. The WARN notice was issued on March 14.