HEALTH CARE

Syntex Eliminates 1,000 Jobs: Syntex Corp. has cut 1,000 jobs, 285 through involuntary layoffs, to trim its global work force to 10,500 in a move expected to save $30 million a year, the drug company announced. Syntex has more than a dozen drug manufacturing plants worldwide, several of which it plans to completely or partially close over the next two or three years, eliminating 600 more jobs. The company said it took a $180-million charge in its first quarter, ended Oct. 31, to pay for the retrenchment. As part of the announcement, Syntex reported that sales fell 2% to $492 million during the first quarter from $502 million for the same period last year. The company reported a $6-million, or 3 cents per share, net loss for the quarter, contrasted with a $132-million, or 59 cents per share, profit for the same period a year ago. The loss included the restructuring charge and an additional $42-million charge for environmental cleanup, as well as a net tax benefit for the quarter of $138 million.