Lundbeck plans to cut between 50 and 55 jobs in Europe amid an overhaul to its commercial operations.
The Danish pharma company said last week that it intends to simplify its commercial structure in the region to improve alignment across countries in activities such as market access.
The measures are part of Lundbeck’s ‘Fit for the Future’ programme to improve the company’s efficiency as revenues are set to be hit hard by the loss of patent protection for antidepressant Cipralex/ Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate), the company’s best-selling drug.
Sales have already plummeted in the US from 2.5bn Danish krone in 2011 to 500m Danish krone in 2012, with a similar impact expected in Europe, and Lundbeck has cut its sales forecast for 2013 and 2014.
As a result, the company announced in June last year its intentions to cut 600 sales jobs across its subsidiaries in Europe.
The 50 cuts announced last week are on top of those already planned, details of which will “depend on the outcome of the negotiations with the relevant works councils” said a Lundbeck spokesperson.
The spokesperson added that “a number of countries in Europe is likely to be affected”.
In addition to the job losses, Lundbeck said it intends to overhaul its commercial operations to be split into six regions: Europe, USA, Canada, Asia, Latin America and Middle East and Global Distribution.
According to the Lundbeck, this reflects “global diversification of the company and ensures full focus on growth markets”.
On top of these plans, Lundbeck will organise its 10 affiliates in Europe into 10 business units to better handle the launch of new medicines, including alcohol dependency product Selincro (nalmefene); a once-monthly formulation of its Abilify (aripiprazole) antipsychotic; and new antidepressant, Brintellix (vortioxetine).
“We want the best possible set-up to ensure the transition of our product portfolio through successful launches of new medicines,” said Ole Chrintz, senior VP, international markets and Europe at Lundbeck.
“With this plan we will have the focus, the structure and the competencies in place to achieve that.”