Lundbeck, a global pharmaceutical company specialized in brain diseases, has simplified its commercial structure, increased alignment across countries and improved competencies and investments in market access as a result of its Fit-for-the-Future program.

Lundbeck's Fit-for-the-Future program was announced on June 20, with the aim to reduce complexity, increase organizational efficiency and free up resources to ensure our successful transition toward a sustainable new Lundbeck. The program includes initiatives to optimize and standardize administrative processes, reduce supply chain complexity, ensure more effective execution of clinical trials, structure procurement and decrease spending on less critical activities. This program follows the plan to divide the commercial operations into six regions: Europe, U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America and Middle East and global distribution to reflect the global diversification of the company and ensures full focus on growth markets. The commercial structure in Europe, with its more than 30 affiliates, will be organized in 10 business units. The Fit-for-the Future program is expected to run through 2015. 

Anders Götzsche, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Lundbeck, said, "We are very aware that these initiatives affect many employees and we will strive to mitigate any negative effects these might have."

Earlier initiatives include the Decisions Now program and the optimizations of Lundbeck's R&D activities.

The full effect of this program is expected to deliver an annual benefit of more than $90 million from 2016. Lundbeck proposes to restructure its business services in Europe and establish a business service center in Poland. The restructuring is likely to impact approximately 180 to 200 positions in 2014 to 2015.