November 6, 2025 | BioBuzz Staff Report
Catalent has confirmed a new round of layoffs at its Baltimore operations, marking the company’s second workforce reduction in Maryland since August and reinforcing the mounting challenges facing the gene therapy manufacturing sector.
In a statement provided to BioBuzz, a Catalent spokesperson wrote:
“Following our August announcement about an unexpected shift in demand from a large commercial customer, we have announced additional workforce reductions in Baltimore. It is never easy to see talented colleagues leave Catalent, and we remain committed to providing them transition support as they manage this change. 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.”
The company did not disclose how many positions were impacted in this latest reduction.
Second Round Follows August Layoffs
In August 2025, BioBuzz first reported on rumors of a significant workforce reduction at Catalent’s Maryland sites, later confirmed to total approximately 350 jobs across its gene therapy manufacturing operations.
At the time, Catalent attributed those cuts to “a sudden change in demand from a large customer,” widely believed within the industry to be tied to one of its major gene therapy clients.
This latest announcement appears to be a continuation of that restructuring effort as the company recalibrates its capacity and workforce to match current client demand.
Maryland’s Life Sciences Workforce Under Pressure
Catalent’s latest layoffs come amid a wave of biotech job losses across Maryland and the broader U.S. life sciences industry.
According to BioBuzz’s internal Biotech Layoff Tracker, more than 1,200 positions have been eliminated across Maryland’s life sciences cluster so far in 2025 — from CDMOs and diagnostics firms to gene and cell therapy startups.
At the national level, more than 32,000 biopharma jobs have been cut this year as companies adjust to slower growth, reduced funding, and an uncertain regulatory environment for advanced therapies. (BioWorld, Oct 2025)
Earlier this summer, BioBuzz reported on how federal budget tightening, NIH funding constraints, and shifting priorities in biomedical R&D have accelerated the downturn. That report — “Maryland’s Life Science Workforce Faces Record Contraction” (July 30, 2025) — documented hiring freezes, layoffs, and federal cuts impacting leading research institutions and contractors across the state.
Together, these pressures are creating the toughest employment landscape Maryland’s life sciences sector has seen in over a decade.
A Convergence of Challenges for Gene Therapy and Beyond
The gene therapy CDMO market, once one of biotech’s fastest-growing segments, has cooled dramatically in 2025.
Service providers that rapidly expanded during the pandemic now face lower utilization rates, fewer clinical manufacturing contracts, and slower commercial launches.
Analysts note that large customers are delaying programs or scaling back production orders, directly impacting revenue and staffing across key facilities.
Across the state, leaders describe an increasingly difficult market for scientific and manufacturing professionals. Many companies that would typically absorb displaced workers are now also cutting back or freezing hiring altogether.
In conversations with BioBuzz, one Maryland industry executive described the atmosphere as “sobering,” noting that these layoffs affect some of the region’s most experienced and technically skilled workers. These are highly trained professionals with years of process and quality expertise, yet there are fewer open roles than ever to match their capabilities. Many are being forced to consider relocation, retraining, or transitions into adjacent sectors.
The Human Toll and What Comes Next
The recent Catalent layoffs further illustrate how vulnerable specialized biomanufacturing roles have become amid economic, regulatory, and client-driven volatility. With hiring down across the board — from research and development to quality assurance and operations — displaced professionals are entering an increasingly crowded job market.
While some companies continue to hire in niche technical areas, overall demand remains soft, and competition for available positions is intense. Our hearts and hopes go out to all of those impacted this year, especially as we enter the holiday season.
Local workforce groups and state partners are beginning to collaborate on retraining initiatives to help these skilled workers pivot into emerging sectors or develop complementary skills in automation, data, and digital bioprocessing. BioBuzz was also recently awarded a State workforce grant from TEDCO – Mobilizing Opportunity & Outreach for Regional Excellence in Bio (MOORE-Bio) – to help support Maryland’s workforce and employers during this challenging time.
BioBuzz will continue to monitor developments as Catalent and other biomanufacturers adjust to shifting market realities and federal policy trends that are reshaping the life sciences labor landscape.
Resources for Impacted Biotech Professionals
BioBuzz offers several career resources for job seekers in biotech, including:
- Free weekly Career Coaching seminars led by industry mentors
- A weekly newsletter featuring job announcements, hiring insights, and employer spotlights
- Partnerships with Bio-Trac, BioTrain, and BioHub Maryland to support workforce development and upskilling for displaced professionals.
For more information, visit app.biobuzz.io to create a profile with our Talent Marketplace.
