Eisai cuts 25% of US staff
pharmafile | April 10, 2015 | News story | Medical Communications, Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Daiichi, Eisai, US, cuts, layoffs, reorganisation, staff
Eisai’s US business is offloading around 200 jobs as part of some restructuring to create a more ‘efficient and focussed organisation’.
The job losses are expected to take place in May and US divisions up for the chop include R&D, manufacturing, sales and marketing, plus administrative departments. However, the Japanese-based firm has said that it does not have plans to close any of its main offices or facilities.
“The actions we are taking will ensure Eisai stays competitive in a rapidly changing business environment,” insists Yuji Matsue, who is the chairman and chief executive of Eisai. “Through this realignment, we will be able to redeploy our resources to support the development of our priority late-stage compounds and our current product portfolio.”
Eisai’s portfolio has undergone some shakeups recently with patent losses of blockbusters such as with Alzheimer’s drug Aricept (donepezil hydrochloride). It is currently approved to treat mild to moderate Alzheimer’s in China, but has been accepted for review to treat patients with the most severe form of the disease.
Furthermore, in 2014 the firm’s first-in-class epilepsy treatment Fycompa (perampanel) was declared as having ‘no additional benefit’ compared to conventional anti-epilepsy drugs by a German health assessment body.
Parallel to Eisai, rival East-Asian firm Daiichi Sankyo also laid off a number of staff at its US division recently in order to prepare itself for imminent loss of exclusivity on big drugs.
As part of its reorganisation staff across commercial operations and sales were affected but according to Daiichi, R&D and other areas will remain unharmed.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Eisai’s president and chief operating officer Shaji Procida, says: “This decision was difficult. We are grateful to our colleagues, each of whom has played an important role in helping us fulfill our human health care mission of bringing important new medicines to patients.”
She concludes: “We are aware of the impact that our reorganisation will have on some employees and will work with them to ensure that their transition is as smooth as possible.”
Tom Robinson
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