U.K. drug maker GlaxoSmithKline will announce about 6,000 job cuts on Thursday when it releases its quarterly results, the Sunday Telegraph newspaper reported.

The layoffs, which represent 6 percent of its total workforce, are part of a strategy to face the challenges of strong competition from generic drug makers and fewer new products, the newspaper said.

A spokesman for Glaxo told Reuters the company had a restructuring program but didn't comment on job cuts.

Glaxo competitor Astrazeneca said last week it was cutting 15,000 workers and reported sales below estimates for its fourth quarter.

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