Pharmaceutical giant Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) is to axe 90 jobs at its Co Cork plant — almost a fifth of its workforce — over the next six months.

Some 160 jobs are to go at the Schering Plough pharmaceutical plant in west Cork, it emerged this afternoon.

There are fears for jobs at one of the longest established pharmaceutical plants in the country.

SCHERING-Plough’s 1,400-strong Irish workforce are bracing themselves for significant job losses today.

A reported 150 jobs are to be created in the pharmaceutical sector in Cork over the next year with the construction of a €70m facility.