Pfizer team visits Rouses Point plant

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December 2, 2009

By DAN HEATH The Press Republican Wed Dec 02, 2009, 10:21 AM EST

ROUSES POINT — A team of Pfizer representatives visited the Rouses Point manufacturing facility this week, but officials said it was just a routine assessment.

David Champagne, managing director of the Rouses Point facility, said this was one of several visits Pfizer officials have made to assess the Rouses Point manufacturing operation.

He said the agreement for Pfizer to lease the facility from Akrimax Pharmaceuticals until the end of June 2010 remains in effect.

That agreement can be extended for six-month intervals through the end of 2011, Champagne said.

Plans call for Akrimax to employ the people still working in Rouses Point even when Pfizer ends its lease, presently about 350 workers. Akrimax officials said in November that is still their intention.

The lease agreement was originally between Akrimax and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. Pfizer acquired the lease when it completed the acquisition of Wyeth last fall.

Pfizer has since announced that it will close research and development facilities in Rouses Point and Chazy and a clinical supply and packaging facility in Plattsburgh.

That will result in the loss of more than 300 jobs between the end of this year and the middle of next year.

Some employees have told the Press-Republican the Pfizer visit this week could be crucial, since the company might be considering a consolidation of its manufacturing operation and, if so, would have to decide whether to maintain, or even expand, the Rouses Point operation or close it.

The company and local, state and federal leaders are working as part of a Pfizer Transition Coordinating Council to help those employees, preferably with a new owner for the targeted facilities.

That group will hold its next meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Plattsburgh-North Country Chamber of Commerce.

E-mail Dan Heath at:

dheath@pressrepublican.com