R.P. Scherer Closing Softgel Plant

CLEARWATER, Fla.--R.P. Scherer Inc. is closing its softgel manufacturing facility here and cutting 185 workers. According to a story on the Associated Press (AP), the Basking Ridge, N.J.-based company, a subsidiary of Cardinal Health Inc., is making the change because of a drop in demand for dietary supplements.

AP reported that Tom Stuart, head of R.P. Scherer's American operations said that the Clearwater facility was dedicated to making softgels for dietary supplements. "We are not at all changing the scope of our pharmaceutical production operations," he told AP.

Calls to the company for comment had not been returned at press time. Further information on R.P. Scherer is available at www.rpscherer.com.