Allergan cuts jobs in Ireland as AMO assumes operations

Dublin, Ireland-Allergan Inc. will cut more than 300 jobs this spring at its Westport plant in western Ireland as it transfers its contact lens solutions operations there to Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (AMO) of Santa Clara, CA.

The cuts amount to more than one- third of its Irish workforce, but Allergan officials said they intend to maintain the plant, which opened in 1977 and employs 955 workers.

More than 100 of those employees produce the world's supply of the company's botulinum toxin type A (Botox) anti-wrinkle treatment.

The jobs cut include 240 permanent jobs and 80 temporary positions.

The facility will continue to manufacture future Allergan products including memantine, an Alzheimer's drug; diquafosol ophthalmic solution for dry eye; oral tazarotene for psoriasis; triamcinolone, a corticosteroid to control wheezing; and Posurdex for macular edema, according to published reports.

David Pyott, chairman and chief executive officer of Allergan, did not respond to a request for an interview. However, he told an Irish publication that he "deeply regrets" the need to cut jobs there but remains "very committed" to the company's presence in Ireland. The Westport plant and Dublin Customer Service Center serve customers in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.