Pfizer, the world's biggest drugmaker, will cut 800 research scientists from its laboratories as it reduces its focus on developing new products.

Jobs in its British lab in Sandwich will be targeted as well as in Connecticut and California.

The company did not specify from which areas of research would be affected but said that it would reduce its research headcount by 5 per cent to 8 per cent in total by the end of this year. The Wall Street Journal said that the cuts were an admission that the billions of dollars poured into new drug development had not been fruitful.

In September the company said that it would stop its early stage development in medicines for heart failure, high cholesterol and obesity as part of a company reorganisation. Pfizer plans to focus on cancer, brain disorders and diabetes.

Pfizer has 10,000 researchers and a $7.5 billion annual science budget but must cut spending as it readies itself to lose its patent protection on Lipitor, the cholesterol pill that is the world's best-selling medication. Lipitor's sales are worth $13 billion to the drugs giant.

Jeffery Kindler, chief executive of Pfizer, has fired more than 14,000 employees since taking his job in 2006.

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