Merck filed a WARN notice announcing it will end Gardasil and Gardasil 9 production at its Durham vaccine plant, laying off 147 employees at the Old Oxford Road site plus seven others. The decision follows a sharp drop in demand for Gardasil in China and follows Merck’s earlier pause of shipments to that market. The plant previously received a $1 billion investment and hires, but the company said halting production at this site is part of periodic manufacturing-network optimization to align capacity with global demand. Merck emphasized it continually evaluates operations to ensure reliable supply across its vaccine portfolio.