JOBS in Kent are at risk after drugs giant Pfizer revealed plans to axe 10,000 at its plants worldwide.

Pfizer, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, employs nearly 5,000 people at Sandwich.

It is one of the county’s largest employers and well known for a number of drugs, especially Viagra, that was developed in Kent.

It is feared that some jobs may have to go at the Kent plant but precise numbers have not yet been disclosed.

A company spokesman said that 50 scientists might be affected but it was hoped they could be re-deployed elsewhere in the company.

The company, hit by fierce competition, downward price pressure and disappointing sales, aims to save £1 billion by shutting three factories, three research sites and cutting its global workforce by 10 per cent.

The drastic plans were unveiled by chairman and chief executive Jeffrey Kindler who was hired to turn around the struggling company.

Worldwide earnings have fallen and competition has cut sales of Zithromax, an antibiotic, Zoloft, an anti-depressant, and Lipitor, the anti-cholesterol drug.