Merck notified state authorities it will stop producing Gardasil and Gardasil 9 at its Durham, N.C., facility and lay off roughly 154 employees as a result of weakened global demand, particularly in China. The company said the move is part of a manufacturing network optimization. The WARN filing follows Merck’s recent $1 billion plant opening in Durham and comes amid broader sector restructuring; industry trackers flagged Merck among multiple biopharma employers trimming headcount this quarter. Merck said it will continue other vaccine manufacturing operations at the site. The decision spotlights how rapid demand shifts in regional markets can force manufacturers into operational resizing and raises questions about inventory alignment and global supply planning.