French diagnostics giant bioMérieux is pulling up stakes in San Jose and cutting 121 Bay Area jobs, according to state filings, ending a local run that began with a 2022 acquisition. The permanent closure of the South Bay office is slated to take effect April 3, 2026, leaving affected staff to sort out what comes next as they await details on severance, potential transfers and retraining options.
According to a state WARN filing cited by the San Francisco Chronicle, the shutdown centers on the company’s site at 130 Baytech Drive in San Jose. The notice lists 121 positions that are expected to be eliminated, with layoffs scheduled to start April 3, 2026.
bioMérieux, founded in 1963 and headquartered in Marcy‑l’Étoile, France, develops in vitro diagnostic systems used in medical microbiology, food safety and pharmaceutical quality control. In its Third‑Quarter 2025 business review, bioMérieux reported 7.3% organic sales growth for the first nine months of the year, a reminder that the San Jose exit is happening even as the company is expanding abroad.
San Jose site history
The San Jose facility joined bioMérieux’s U.S. footprint in 2022 and has housed scientists, engineers and quality‑control staff, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Public business listings tie the 130 Baytech Drive address to Specific Diagnostics, the startup bioMérieux acquired in that expansion. Mergr records the acquisition and lists the same San Jose address.
Legal questions and worker resources
A plaintiffs’ law firm says it is looking into whether bioMérieux complied with WARN Act notice rules when it filed its mass‑layoff notice with California officials, according to Strauss Borrelli. Under state guidelines, the California Employment Development Department generally requires covered employers to give 60 days’ notice and provides rapid‑response and retraining services for displaced workers. Layoff resources are available on the California Employment Development Department website.
South Bay fallout and broader trend
The bioMérieux cuts land in the middle of a rough stretch for Bay Area diagnostics and life‑science workers, as companies across the sector trim headcount and consolidate operations. FiercePharma has tracked recent rounds of local pharma and biotech reductions in 2025, while commercial real estate coverage has flagged mounting vacancy and consolidation pressures in lab space. The Real Deal and regional brokers have pointed to elevated life‑science vacancy rates across the Bay Area…