Pfizer has announced a planned cull of all early-stage projects in neuroscience and the related loss of around 300 jobs.

The move, which follows a routine review of R&D operations at the firm, will mostly hit its sites in Cambridge and Andover, Massachusetts, and in Groton, Connecticut, with around 100 losses expected at each.

The drugmaker reportedly said funds saved from the move will instead be streamed into “areas where we have strong scientific leadership and that will allow us to provide the greatest impact for patients."

Pfizer did also stress that late-stage development programmes for tanezumab and Lyrica (pregabalin), as well as rare disease programmes in the neuromuscular or neurology area, will continue to be supported.

Also, it announced plans to set up a dedicated neuroscience venture fund to support efforts to advance the field, with more details on this expected later this year.