GlaxoSmithKline trimming US sales force by 1,000

TRENTON/NEW JERSEY: British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline PLC is restructuring its US operations, starting with reducing its US sales force by 1,000.

A spokeswoman says the company also will switch from having dual US headquarters, in Philadelphia and in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, to operating just the North Carolina headquarters.

Spokeswoman Mary Anne Rhyne says that's meant to eliminate confusion. There are currently no plans to cut jobs or close offices in Philadelphia, she says.

GlaxoSmithKline has about 8,500 US sales representatives. It plans to cut about 1,800 of those, but at the same time beef up its vaccine sales force to end up with a total of about 7,500 US sales representatives.

Workers losing jobs are being told this week and will be out of work by year's end.