Merck to close former Inspire HQ in Raleigh, cut 51 workers

Drug giant Merck made the news official Thursday – it is closing Inspire Pharmaceuticals’ headquarters in Raleigh.

The shutdown will put 51 people out of work, Merck said in a notice filed with the North Carolina Department of Commerce on Thursday.

When Merck (NYSE: MRK) closed on the $430 million Inspire acquisition last month, the company said the Raleigh office would be closed. Inspire had recently moved to Raleigh from Durham.

The shutdown date is Aug. 31.

The Inspire office is located at 8081 Arco Corporate Drive.

Some Inspire employees could be transferred to a Merck production facility in Durham.

Merck plans to absorb Inspire’s ophthalmic business into Monarch Transaction Corp., a subsidiary of Merck.

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