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The basics:

• Novartis to eliminate 114 positions at East Hanover HQ
• Layoffs part of ongoing US restructuring, pipeline focus
• Company investing $23B in US manufacturing, R&D, new facilities
• Recent acquisitions include Excellergy, Pikavation, Avidity Biosciences

As part of an ongoing restructuring effort, Novartis is planning further cuts at its U.S. headquarters in New Jersey.

In a filing with the state Department of Labor & Workforce Development, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant reported it will eliminate 114 positions at its East Hanover base between June and November.

A company spokesperson told NJBIZ, “Novartis continually assesses opportunities to adapt in alignment with our evolving pipeline, patient and customer needs. As such, we direct our efforts and talent toward areas where we can create the greatest potential impact for patients and customers.”

“As part of this, our U.S. Customer Engagement organization has been evaluating opportunities to evolve our field sales team structures to better support the unique needs of patients and customers in the rare and ultra rare disease spaces – where Novartis has a strong footprint and focus with in-market products and upcoming pivotal launches. To that end, we are making some organizational changes that result in some roles being eliminated, modified and created,” they said. “We are committed to treating our people with fairness and respect and encourage affected employees to apply for open positions in other areas of our business.”

The layoffs come as Novartis continues to streamline operations, sharpen R&D and prepare for key drug patent expirations.

1,000 jobs cuts and counting

Since unveiling its 2022 restructuring plan, Novartis has cut well over 1,000 jobs in New Jersey over multiple waves as it works to reshape its U.S. business.

The company has said it expects to phase out approximately 8,000 positions globally – about 7% of its workforce. At the same time, it is also focusing on manufacturing, innovation and new therapies.

In April 2025, Novartis said it will invest more than $23 billion over the next five years to expand its manufacturing, research and technology presence in the U.S. According to Novartis, the increased capacity will enable production of 100% of its key medicines end-to-end domestically.

The company plans to add 10 new facilities and create more than 1,000 new positions for skilled workers, such as scientists and engineers, along with an additional 4,000 jobs for support staff and construction overall.

The investment comes as Novartis prepares for patent expirations of heart medicine Entresto and plaque psoriasis biologic Cosentyx. Earlier this year, the company warned that profits would decline as some of its best-selling drugs lose their protections.

In a bid to offset the losses, Novartis has recently announced a series of acquisitions.

Last week, it revealed plans to shell out up to $2 billion to acquire California-based biotech Excellergy. As part of the deal, Novartis will add an early-stage drug candidate to its existing allergy portfolio. That news came days after Novartis announced plans to acquire Synnovation subsidiary Pikavation Therapeutics. It will pay up to $3 billion for that deal to secure the rights to an experimental breast cancer drug.

In February, the company also scooped up Avidity Biosciences. That $12 billion deal added three late-stage programs to Novartis’ neuromuscular pipeline.