Novartis Exits Antibiotics Research, Cuts 140 Jobs in Bay Area

Novartis AG will shut down its antibacterial and antiviral research operations in the San Francisco Bay area and cut about 140 jobs, joining other pharmaceutical giants that have pulled out of the field in recent years. The exit is part of the Swiss drugmaker’s move to narrow its R&D focus under its new chief executive officer. Vas Narasimhan, who took over in February, said in an interview last month that his priorities include gene-therapy programs for cancer treatment, neuroscience and ophthalmology.