Just months after trimming jobs in New Jersey following an acquisition, BioMarin is laying off 117 employees in California as part of a consolidation of its footprint.
Effective Dec. 4, BioMarin plans to cut 117 jobs at its Novato, California, site, according to a California WARN notice.
The move follows BioMarin’s decision to consolidate its footprint in the California city into “a smaller, more focused site,” a company spokesperson said in a statement to Fierce.
BioMarin operates several facilities in Novato. The Galli Drive facility produces the active pharmaceutical ingredients for Aldurazyme, Naglazyme, Palynziq and Voxzogo, and it’s the only manufacturing facility for the four products and one of just two plants for Vimizim, according to the company’s 2025 annual report.
“Novato will remain BioMarin’s primary drug substance manufacturing site for Aldurazyme and Naglazyme while activities related to other products and facilities will be transferred, divested or decommissioned,” the spokesperson said in the Sept. 30 statement.
“We are committed to treating affected employees with respect throughout this transition, including providing appropriate support and severance benefits consistent with our policies,” the spokesperson said. “We remain fully committed to the patients we serve.”
Revelation of the headcount reduction comes two weeks after BioMarin announced that it would not develop Voxzogo for children with Noonan syndrome, a genetic disorder that can affect height, facial features and the heart.
The spokesperson said the latest consolidation is “not related to any recent pipeline updates, including our development program with Voxzogo.” Rather, the decision is part of an ongoing evaluation of BioMarin’s global footprint, according to the spokesperson.
The dwarfism drug is currently BioMarin’s key growth driver, with its Street-beating $253 million sales in the second quarter leading to an increase in the company's full-year guidance.
Before the latest job cuts in California, BioMarin telegraphed a 58-role layoff round at Amicus Therapeutics’ legacy headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey, in May, shortly after acquiring the fellow rare disease biotech for $4.8 billion.
In addition to the Novato site, BioMarin also has a production facility in Shanbally, County Cork, Ireland, and it also relies on services from contract manufacturers.
Darren Incorvaia contributed to reporting.