Azurity Pharmaceuticals to Close Massachusetts Plant, Lay Off 75 Employees Amid Strategic Shift

Azurity Pharmaceuticals, a privately held drug reformulation specialist, has announced plans to sunset its manufacturing operations in Wilmington, Massachusetts, resulting in the elimination of 75 jobs. The move comes as part of a broader strategic shift focusing on the company's core strengths in dose-form innovation and commercialization of medicines for overlooked patient populations.

Manufacturing Transition and Layoffs

The staff reduction process is scheduled to begin in mid-September and continue through December 31, 2025, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) alert filed with the state of Massachusetts. Azurity has been gradually winding down production at the Wilmington facility over the past six months, with plans to formally close the manufacturing plant by the end of 2025.

An Azurity spokesperson explained that the decision reflects the growth of the company's commercial portfolio, which increasingly requires specialized manufacturing capabilities. "Our internal manufacturing has become a smaller part of our overall supply chain, and we are strategically moving our manufacturing of the in-house products to other domestic manufacturing partners," the spokesperson stated.

Strategic Refocus on Core Competencies

Azurity's unique niche in the pharmaceutical industry involves reformulating established therapeutics to address the needs of overlooked patient groups. The company has recently secured several FDA approvals, including:

1. A new formulation of Novartis' chronic myeloid leukemia drug Tasigna that doesn't require patients to take the medicine on an empty stomach
2. A liquid version of an epilepsy drug for those who have difficulty taking tablets
3. A grape-flavored version of the muscle relaxant baclofen for people with multiple sclerosis

The spokesperson emphasized that this strategic move allows Azurity to "focus on our core strengths of dose-form innovation at speed and scale, and commercialization of medicines for overlooked patients."

Recent Acquisition and Future Outlook

Despite the manufacturing downsizing, Azurity continues to pursue growth through other avenues. In March, the company completed its acquisition of Covis Group, converting the specialty drugmaker into a wholly-owned Azurity subsidiary. Notably, Covis was the company behind the controversial preterm birth drug Makena, which had its accelerated approval revoked by the FDA in 2023.

As Azurity transitions away from in-house manufacturing, the company plans to rely entirely on contract manufacturers for its product portfolio. This shift aligns with the company's evolving business model and its commitment to leveraging specialized expertise in various dosage formats.