SmithKline Beckman is expected to announce a...

SmithKline Beckman is expected to announce a major restructuring today that could involve layoffs of more than 3,000 employees worldwide. The pharmaceutical and medical instruments company, which has reported declining profits for several quarters, announced in July that it planned to cut costs and restructure but has refused to divulge details. One industry analyst suggested that the restructuring might involve the sale of operating units, specifically Fullerton-based Beckman Instruments, which employs 4,000. SmithKline’s other units in Southern California include Allergan Pharmaceuticals in Irvine, with 6,000 employees, and SmithKline BioScience in Van Nuys, with about 1,000. Both Beckman and Allergan declined comment.