Biotechnology company Amersham is to slash 100 jobs from its UK research and development operation with a further 308 to go worldwide in a move prompted by a drop in sales.

The cuts will be made at its offices in Buckinghamshire, with 270 to go in the US, 25 in Sweden and 13 in Japan, as part of a restructuring programme aimed at saving up to £35m a year by next year.