Biopharma continued to slow layoffs in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the prior year, but headcount reductions still climbed in aggregate due to large-company cuts. According to BioSpace tallies cited by the report, 35 companies made or planned layoffs in Q1 2026 versus 74 in Q1 2025, while total affected employees increased from 5,926 to 6,593. The shift is partly explained by Viatris’ plans to cut up to 10% of its global workforce over three years, accounting for roughly 3,000 employees, and by Evotec’s strategic reorganization. At the same time, the report notes a continued improvement in funding conditions, including seven biopharma IPOs in the first quarter of 2026, nearly matching 2025’s pace. Overall, the employment picture reflected cautious optimization rather than a full retrenchment, with capital formation improving while companies still targeted operational restructuring and cost control.