Catalent Continues Restructuring with Additional Layoffs in Maryland

Catalent, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), has announced another round of job cuts in its Maryland operations, affecting 77 employees. This move comes as part of ongoing efforts to resize its gene therapy division in response to shifting market demands.

Latest Workforce Reductions

Catalent revealed in recent disclosures that it will lay off 77 employees across its Maryland facilities by January 5, 2026. The majority of these cuts, affecting 61 workers, will take place at the company's Harmans site, with the remaining 16 positions being eliminated at facilities in Baltimore and Hanover.

A Catalent spokesperson stated, "Following our August announcement about an unexpected shift in demand from a large commercial customer, we have announced additional workforce reductions in Baltimore." This latest round of layoffs follows a more substantial cut of approximately 350 jobs in Maryland announced earlier in August 2025.

Impact of Customer Demand Shifts

While Catalent has not officially named the customer behind the demand shift, industry analysts point to Sarepta Therapeutics as the likely source. Sarepta, known to be a Catalent customer, has faced challenges with its Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy, Elevidys.

In June 2025, Sarepta paused shipments of Elevidys to non-ambulatory patients following the deaths of two individuals who had received the therapy. A brief total shipment halt in July was followed by a resumption of deliveries to ambulatory patients a week later.

These developments led Sarepta to announce its own layoffs of 500 staff members in July 2025. The biotech company also indicated plans to adjust its manufacturing commitments based on updated demand projections.

Catalent's Strategic Adjustments

Despite the layoffs, Catalent remains optimistic about its gene therapy business. The company spokesperson emphasized, "We are confident in our gene therapy business and look forward to working on behalf of customers to deliver novel therapies for patients with genetic diseases/disorders."

A recent SEC filing by Sarepta revealed a "supplemental letter agreement" with Catalent, established in August 2025. This agreement addresses financial and operational matters related to the Elevidys developments, including the delay of certain batch deliveries until "2027 and beyond."

These strategic moves come as Catalent approaches the first anniversary of its acquisition by Novo Holdings. The CDMO has recently opened a new corporate headquarters in Tampa and unveiled a new tagline: "Championing the missions that matter," signaling its commitment to adapting to the evolving pharmaceutical landscape while maintaining its focus on delivering critical therapies to patients.