Novartis announced plans to eliminate 550 jobs in Switzerland by the end of 2027 as part of a strategic shift toward cell therapy, RNA-based medicines, and other advanced biologics. The cuts will primarily affect its Stein facility, where the company is phasing out the production of pills, capsules, and sterile medicine packaging.

As part of the transition, Novartis will invest around $26 million to reconfigure the Stein site for next-generation therapies. The company will also invest approximately $80 million in its Schweizerhalle site near Basel to expand production capacity for RNA and other innovative treatments, creating about 80 new jobs there by 2028.

The move aligns with Novartis’s long-term manufacturing strategy, though Switzerland’s largest trade union has criticized the layoffs, calling them difficult to justify in light of the company’s strong global performance.