Sanofi "Restructuring" Looks Increasingly Like Layoffs

(MoneyWatch)  More ominous news on the jobs and layoffs front at Sanofi-Aventis as new details emerge about CEO Chris Viehbacher's "restructuring." The WSJ reports Sanofi is cutting R&D, trimming ahead of the $8.6 billion loss of Plavix in 2011, and preparing a big push into generics. (Well, duh, it bought Zentiva in 2008.)

All of those maneuvers would seem to indicate that Sanofi will cut the number of workers it employs. BNET noted that layoffs at Sanofi were a possibility on June 23.

Pharmaceutical sales reps will not be needed to pitch generic drugs -- it's a commodity business, all the deals you need to do will be with pharmacies, distributors and reimbursers.

Cutting R&D is exactly what you think it is. And when nearly $9 billion in revenue disappears, Viehbacher will have no compunction in reducing headcount accordingly. The WSJ:

"We have 24 months' time to make the company ready" for the loss of Plavix, the person said. "Lower costs and stronger emphasis on generics" are key to Sanofi's plans, the person said.

Laws in France and Germany make it much harder and more expensive to lay people off, so Sanofi's ax will fall first and most often on the U.S. side of the business.

Meanwhile, there are jobs in catering at Sanofi.

• See BNET's previous coverage of Sanofi:
• Sanofi "Restructuring" Scheduled; Multaq Launch Not; Staff Worry About Layoffs
• Sanofi Q4: No Nasty Surprises, But Viehbacher Is Focused on Sales Productivity Ratios
• Sanofi CEO Viehbacher Wants More Cuts; Drug Reps' Necks on the Block
• The Sanofi-Bristol-Myers Squibb Worst-Case Scenario
• Should Sanofi-Aventis Buy Bristol Myers-Squibb?
• Several Hundred Sanofi Reps Get the Ax
• Sanofi Names D-Day for Layoffs: Dec. 1
• Sanofi Reps' Morale Hits New Low as Layoff Rumors Circulate
• New CEO Veihbacher, Plucked From the U.S., Could De-Frenchify Sanofi
• Sanofi Gets the Tax Breaks It Wanted in Vaccine HQ Deal