Wyeth’s Great Valley site to close

Wyeth operations in Great Valley will close next year but the company's Collegeville facility will remain open as the result of the pharmaceutical giant's merger today with New York-based Pfizer Inc.

But the big question remains how many of an expected 20,000 job cuts at the combined company will be made in this region.

The decision to keep most of the Collegeville facility, which has been Wyeth's longtime pharmaceutical headquarters, does not mean that all 3,600 employees there will keep their jobs. Nor does it mean all 900 Great Valley employees will lose theirs.

Several employees, who asked that their names not be used, said they expect to learn their fates by the end of the month.

State Senators John Rafferty, Andy Dinniman and Mike Vereb, who, along with representatives of Gov. Rendell, lobbied Pfizer to keep all current jobs in Pennsylvania, said they remain hopeful that Pfizer will retain most of the 4,500 total jobs.

"There are no guarantees that all the jobs will stay there, but Pfizer representatives have told us that they want to keep a presence in Pennsylvania," Rafferty (R., Montgomery) said yesterday.

In a statement, Dinniman (D., Chester), said he remains hopeful that most of the Great Valley jobs would be transferred to Collegeville and not cut.

"The situation will only be fully clear in the months ahead," Dinniman said. "So far, it looks good, but we have to remain vigilant so that what looks good turns out to be even better."

Pfizer said in a statement that the Collegeville facility would be the leadership center for its specialty business unit, which includes vaccines, infectious diseases, and more than 20 medicines in 11 disease areas.

Geno Germano, who had been president of Wyeth's U.S. and pharmaceutical business units in Collegeville, will head Pfizer's specialty businesses.

Pfizer's corporate headquarters will remain in New York, along with its emerging markets, established products, oncology and primary care businesses.

Madison, N.J., which had been Wyeth's headquarters, will house the combined company's diversified businesses, animal health, Capsugel, consumer health care, and nutrition businesses.

Existing operations at Collegeville's 200 and 400 Campus Dr. will be consolidated into the main facility there over the course of the next six to eight months. Pfizer also will consolidate the functions at the Great Valley campus primarily into Collegeville.

Great Valley housed Wyeth information technology employees, along with some other functions.

The two companies completed their merger today and will begin operating as a single company under the Pfizer name tomorrow.

Also, after financial stock markets close today, Wyeth common stock, ticker WYE, will cease trading.

Pfizer shares were trading at midafternoon at $17.70, up 33 cents. Wyeth shares were priced at $50.40, up 36 cents.

Contact staff writer Miriam Hill at 215-854-5520 or hillmb@phillynews.com.