Takeda cuts 2,800 jobs as it assimilates Nycomed

Japan’s largest drugmaker Takeda Pharmaceutical (TSE: 4502) yesterday announced strategic measures to better align its global workforce and consolidate site operations in order to integrate legacy of Switzerland-based Nycomed operations, the 9.6 billion-euro (around $12.2 billion at current exchange rates) acquisition of which was finalized last fall (The Pharma Letter October 2, 2011).

Takeda aims to strengthen its presence in more than 70 countries, adapt to changing market conditions and maintain a focus on growth through innovation and culture, as outlined in its 2011-2013 Mid-Range Plan (MRP).  Among the proposed measures the company is to cut its global workforce by around 2,800 by the end of fiscal 2015 "to better align its global workforce and consolidate site operations in order to integrate legacy Nycomed operations." Around 2,100 job losses will come in Europe and 700 in the USA across "the functions of R&D, commercial, operations and G&A," said Takeda.

"The combination of Takeda and Nycomed, which we acquired on September 30, 2011, brought together Takeda's strong presence in the Japanese and US markets with the legacy Nycomed business infrastructure in Europe and high-growth emerging markets," said Yasuchika Hasegawa, president and chief executive of Takeda.