Daiichi Sankyo to cut up to 1,200 jobs in the US
R&D and packaging businesses in Edison, New Jersey and Parsippany, New Jersey are unaffected
Japan-based drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo is to cut up to 1,200 jobs in the US as it faces the loss of exclusivity for its largest product, the blood pressure drug Benicar, in the coming months.
The eliminated jobs will come from the US Commercial Home Office, located in Parsippany, New Jersey, as well as field-based sales and other positions throughout the country.
The loss of exclusivity, 'calls for us to restructure our organisation into a smaller, highly targeted and efficient operating model, with a greater emphasis on customer-facing roles', said Ken Keller, President, US Commercial, Daiichi Sankyo.
The firm will reorganise its US Commercial business as it transitions from a 'maturing primary care product portfolio to a differentiated speciality portfolio that will include areas such as cardiovascular, pain management and oncology.'
The reorganisation does not include US-based R&D functions, which have staff concentrated in Edison, NJ, or its packaging plant in Bethlehem, PA, the firm said.
Keller added: 'Daiichi Sankyo recognises the macro changes occurring in the US healthcare system that place a greater emphasis on managing the needs of patients with more complex healthcare needs. As a speciality company, we will be positioned to meet those needs and invest in advancing technologies that will make a significant difference in patient lives.
'While this initiative will place us on the path toward long-term success, it does require us to make some difficult decisions. We are grateful for the contributions of all of our employees and are committed to making this process as easy and streamlined as possible for them through outplacement services and other support.'