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Rockville-based Narcan maker Emergent is cutting hundreds of jobs

Rockville-based Emergent BioSolutions is eliminating 300 jobs and will not fill 85 current job openings, as part of a broad restructuring that also includes closing manufacturing facilities, including one in the Maryland city.

Emergent also reported quarterly revenue of $300 million, almost double revenue in the same quarter a year ago, and a $9 million profit, compared to steep losses in the first quarter of 2023.

Emergent BioSolutions manufactures and sells over-the-counter opioid overdose antidote Narcan, and supplies government stockpiles with vaccines. The company says its latest reorganization would focus the company on its core products business, including Narcan and its anthrax vaccine.

Last quarter, it was awarded a procurement contract valued at up to $235.8 million to supply its anthrax vaccine, BioThrax, to the U.S. Department of Defense.

As part of its restructuring, Emergent is shutting down its Baltimore-Bayview drug manufacturing facility and its drug product facility in Rockville. It said it will concentrate manufacturing operations at sites in Winnipeg, Canada, and Lansing, Michigan.

“Today’s actions are about the future of Emergent,” said CEO Joe Papa. “We have put in place a multiyear plan to position Emergent for sustainable and long-term success, and that starts by stabilizing our operations, strengthening our balance sheet and managing our debt.”

Papa, former Bausch + Lombe CEO, was named Emergent chief executive in February.

The Food and Drug Administration approved over-the-counter sales of Emergent’s Narcan in March 2023, and it began shipping it last fall. Emergent gained rights to Narcan as part of its 2018 acquisition of Adapt Pharma.

Massachusetts court hears arguments in lawsuit alleging Meta designed apps to be addictive to kids

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts' highest court heard oral arguments Friday in the state's lawsuit arguing that Meta designed features on Facebook and Instagram to make them addictive to young users. The lawsuit, filed in 2023 by Attorney General Andrea Campbell, alleges that Meta did this to make a profit and that its actions affected hundreds of thousands of teenagers in Massachusetts who use the social media platforms. “We are making claims based only on the tools that Meta has developed because its own research shows they encourage addiction to the platform in a variety of ways,” said State Solicitor David Kravitz, adding that the state's claim has nothing to do the company's algorithms or failure to moderate content. Meta said Friday that it strongly disagrees with the allegations and is “confident the evidence will show our longstanding commitment to supporting young people.” Its attorney, Mark Mosier, argued in court that the lawsuit “would impose liabilities for performing traditional publishing functions” and that its actions are protected by the First Amendment.
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