More than 50 jobs are to be axed at the Haverhill site of pharmaceutical group Sanofi.

Staff were told today that a majority of the labelling, packing and release work on rare disease medicines currently carried out in Haverhill is to be transferred to another group site in Ireland.

But Sanofi said that the core activity at Haverhill, involving the manufacture of the active ingredient for chronic kidney disease treatments, was not affected, and that the plant in Rookwood Way remained “a key site” for the group.

In a statement, the company said: “Sanofi today announced that it plans to transfer some of the work currently undertaken at our Haverhill manufacturing site to another facility in our network.

“Two-thirds of our rare disease medicines labelling, pack and release activities at Haverhill will be moved to our facility in Waterford, Ireland by the end of 2019. Regrettably, this will result in the loss of 57 of the 333 jobs at Haverhill. Employees were notified today.”

The statement continued: “The transfer of this work to Waterford is part of Sanofi’s efforts to simplify its supply chain and does not affect the site’s core activities, which is the manufacture of the active ingredient used in chronic kidney disease treatments.

“The site will also retain 30% of its label, pack and release activities to ensure continuity of supply of these important medications to patients.”

And it added: “Extensive measures to support employees affected by the transfer are in place including relocation of employees, where possible, to other locations within Sanofi. The process for transferring the activity is planned to happen in phases and Sanofi will have a full consultation process and support programme for employees at the site.

“The Haverhill facility is a key site for Sanofi and we remain committed to continued investment in the UK and Ireland.”

Sanofi is based in Paris and employs around 2,000 people in the UK across five sites, including 250 at its UK head office in Guildford. The Haverhill operation became part of the group in 2011 when it acquired the United States-based Genzyme Corporation.