Merck Cuts Staff at Gardasil Plant Amid Slump in Global Demand

Merck & Co. is cutting staff at a US plant that makes its HPV vaccine Gardasil amid a decrease in global demand for the cancer-preventing shot.

Roughly 150 people at a Merck vaccine manufacturing facility that makes Gardasil in Durham, North Carolina, will be impacted by the cuts, according to a filing in the state’s database this week.

“We continuously assess our operations and evolving business needs and adjust as needed to ensure the effectiveness of our manufacturing network in delivering reliable, compliant supply of our medicines and vaccines,” a Merck spokesperson said.

Merck has been grappling with a collapse ...