Jobs at pharmaceutical major Pfizer’s site in Sandwich, UK, will be safeguarded after the site’s planned closure in 2012.

Pfizer has announced that 350 staff will be kept on, after an announcement in February had confirmed that up to 2,400 jobs were under threat.

The company hopes to attract new investors onto the site and the retained staff will be available to work on products already in the pipeline.

“After a rigorous diligence process, Pfizer determined that retaining a portion of its pharmaceutical sciences operation at Sandwich presents the best solution at this time for Pfizer’s business,” read a company statement.