Octagon Therapeutics

April 30, 2025: Following the deprioritization of a lead B cell immunomodulator program and unresolved biology questions around a high-potential pipeline effort, Octagon Therapeutics is winding down operations, its CEO and co-founder announced April 28 on LinkedIn. “Over the past 7 years, we have made fundamental discoveries, pioneered new methods, built a talented team, and assembled a supportive investor base and Board of Directors,” CEO Isaac Stoner wrote. “The toughest part about this business is that you can execute perfectly and still confront a scientific no-go.” Based in Providence, Rhode Island, with lab space in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the closure could affect around a dozen employees.

Spruce Biosciences

April 29, 2025: Spruce Biosciences is cutting 55% of its staff, just over a year after a 21% reduction. According to an SEC filing, the layoffs take effect May 2 and will leave the company with around 10 employees. The San Francisco–based company is prioritizing development of tralesinidase alfa (TA-ERT) for Sanfilippo syndrome type B (MPS IIIB), a rare enzyme deficiency disorder. Spruce recently acquired TA-ERT from BioMarin and plans to seek U.S. accelerated approval. The company expects to incur $900,000 in related cash charges in Q2.

Ono Pharmaceutical

April 28, 2025: Ono Pharmaceutical is laying off 83 employees at its U.S. subsidiary in Cambridge, Massachusetts, effective June 30. The company did not formally announce the layoffs or provide a reason. In February, the Japan-based pharma received FDA approval for Romvimza for the treatment of tenosynovial giant cell tumor, entering a market shared with Daiichi Sankyo’s Turalio.

Caribou Biosciences

April 28, 2025: Caribou Biosciences is laying off 47 employees—32% of its workforce—and ending development of its lupus program. The SEC filing indicates most layoffs will be completed by the end of Q2. The company is refocusing on two allogeneic CAR T therapies for cancer: CB-010 for B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and CB-011 for multiple myeloma. Caribou had previously announced plans to enter the autoimmune space but did not dose any patients in its Phase I lupus trial.

Tempest Therapeutics

April 22, 2025: Tempest Therapeutics is laying off 21 of its 26 full-time employees—about 80% of its workforce—effective April 30. The company disclosed the layoffs in an SEC filing shortly after announcing it was exploring strategic alternatives, including a merger or acquisition. Tempest expects to incur $1.5 million in costs related to the reduction, primarily from severance. Key programs include the Phase 3–ready PPARα antagonist amezalpat for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Mural Oncology

April 15, 2025: Mural Oncology plans to lay off approximately 90% of its staff after disappointing results in two key clinical trials. The company is halting development of its lead candidate, the engineered IL-2 variant nemvaleukin alfa. According to an SEC filing, the layoffs will affect around 104 employees and are expected to be completed by the end of Q2. Mural is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with main operations in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Myeloid Therapeutics

April 15, 2025: Myeloid Therapeutics is restructuring to focus on its two clinical-stage programs. CEO Daniel Getts confirmed the layoffs, primarily affecting early-stage research teams. The company’s focus is now on MT-302 and MT-303, both in Phase I trials targeting various cancers.

Opthea

April 11, 2025: Australian biotech company Opthea announced it will cut approximately 65% of its workforce following failures in two Phase III trials for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The layoffs will take effect on May 1, with remaining staff handling trial closeouts and administrative duties.

Pfizer

April 11, 2025: Pfizer is laying off 56 employees in San Diego, with the changes taking effect on June 6. The company said this is part of a cost optimization plan aiming to save $6 billion by 2027. The layoffs are unrelated to Pfizer’s recent sale of its San Diego campus.

Vincerx Pharma

April 10, 2025: Vincerx Pharma has terminated its planned merger with QumulusAI and will wind down its operations. The company is exploring strategic alternatives for its assets and had previously reduced its workforce to 12 full-time employees by the end of 2024.

Reckitt Benckiser

April 10, 2025: Reckitt Benckiser laid off 190 employees at its Parsippany, New Jersey, headquarters as part of a global restructuring effort. Meanwhile, the company is expanding its North Carolina facility, creating around 300 new jobs.

Tango Therapeutics

April 9, 2025: Tango Therapeutics is laying off about 20% of its workforce—around 30 people—to extend its financial runway. The company recently discontinued its TNG348 program due to toxicity concerns and will now focus on its lead asset, TNG462.

Charles River Laboratories

April 9, 2025: Charles River is laying off 13 employees in Frederick, Maryland, due to the closure of a local production site. This is part of broader consolidation efforts across several locations.

Actavis Laboratories

April 8, 2025: Actavis Laboratories announced it will lay off 78 employees in Salt Lake City, Utah, effective April 18. The company has undergone several restructurings since being acquired by Teva in 2016.

Oncodesign Precision Medicine (OPM)

April 8, 2025: OPM is laying off five employees and cutting executive salaries by 50% as part of a cost-cutting initiative. The company recently lost a key Parkinson’s disease collaboration with Servier and associated milestone payments.

AmplifyBio

April 8, 2025: AmplifyBio announced it will shut down operations. While the company had already closed its San Francisco site, the number of layoffs was not disclosed.

Lyell Immunopharma

April 8, 2025: Lyell Immunopharma will lay off 73 employees and close its Los Angeles manufacturing site, originally acquired through its purchase of ImmPACT Bio. Production of its lead candidate, IMPT-314, is being moved to Bothell, Washington.

Spark Therapeutics

April 7, 2025: Spark Therapeutics will lay off 298 employees and integrate some roles into parent company Roche. The layoffs will occur in three phases, ending December 31, 2025.

Relay Therapeutics

April 4, 2025: Relay Therapeutics will cut about 70 employees, reducing headcount to under 200. The move is expected to reduce R&D spending by roughly 75%.

Gilead

April 2, 2025: Gilead is laying off 149 workers at its Foster City, California, headquarters. The cuts, effective May 27, are part of efforts to prepare for several upcoming product launches, including HIV prevention drug lenacapavir.

Sail Biomedicines

April 2, 2025: Sail Biomedicines is laying off 12 employees and restructuring to focus on clinical development. The company is integrating its circular RNA platform with lipid nanoparticle delivery technologies.

Carisma Therapeutics

April 2, 2025: Carisma Therapeutics will lay off 42 employees, retaining only six to wind down operations. The company is exploring bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings.

Tenaya Therapeutics

April 2, 2025: Tenaya Therapeutics plans to cut 30–40% of its workforce to extend its runway into the second half of 2026. R&D and manufacturing teams will be most affected.

Organon

April 2, 2025: Organon will lay off 93 employees at its New Jersey headquarters between April 30 and May 31. This move is part of a global restructuring plan.

LifeMine Therapeutics

April 1, 2025: LifeMine Therapeutics did not disclose the number of layoffs but is consolidating operations in Watertown, Massachusetts, and prioritizing its lead program LIFE-001.

Inspirna

April 1, 2025: Inspirna is shutting down operations after its KRAS colorectal cancer drug ompenaclid showed poor results in a Phase II trial. A prior licensing agreement with Merck KGaA has also been terminated.