>>ROCKVILLE, Md.--(BW HealthWire)--June 11, 2002--Celera Genomics (NYSE:CRA - News), an Applera Corporation business, today announced the implementation of a restructuring of its organization. This action is intended to focus the company's resources on drug discovery and development, while assuring continued support for the customers of its Online/Information business and the Celera Discovery System(TM) (CDS). Celera will take a one-time charge of $2.8 million in the current fiscal quarter related to this restructuring.
Sixteen percent of Celera's workforce and 132 positions are being eliminated, primarily within the functional areas of DNA sequencing, data management and analysis support, sales, and general administration. This action will reduce infrastructure previously built to support whole genome sequencing and the acquisition of customers for the Online/Information business. These reductions are not expected to adversely impact Celera's Online/Information business, which continues to support its customers and the CDS platform with additional content and tools, including new products and services, through its collaboration with the Knowledge Business of Applied Biosystems.
The restructuring is intended to realign the organization with Celera Genomics' drug discovery strategy, which is based on the identification and validation of therapeutic targets from proteomics, genomics, and bioinformatics and the development of new biologics and small molecule drugs. As part of the reorganization, all of Celera's therapeutic R&D activities will be consolidated under a new manager, who is being recruited for the position.
"Having our entire R&D staff of almost 300 report to one leader should streamline our drug discovery process through tighter integration," said Kathy Ordonez, President of Celera Genomics. "We also plan to add down-stream development capabilities to allow us to further advance selected compounds from our preclinical programs toward clinical trials."<<
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Cheers, Tuck |
