HEALTH CARE
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Marion Merrell Dow Laying Off 12%: The pharmaceutical firm said the layoffs involve 1,100 to 1,300 people, mostly in the United States, as part of a cost-cutting program. The company also said it will take a charge of about $180 million to pay for the previously announced realignment of its business. Both MMD and its primary owner, Dow Chemical, said the charge is expected to reduce second-quarter earnings, but the realignment and other cost-management plans are expected to reduce the drug firm’s annual operating costs by about $250 million from 1992 levels.
