Daiichi Sankyo, based in Parsippany, N.J., will reorganize its U.S. commercial organization as it begins to transition from a maturing primary care product portfolio to a differentiated specialty portfolio that will include areas such as cardiovascular, pain management and oncology.

“As we face the loss of exclusivity in the coming year of our largest product, we also look ahead to great opportunities with our emerging portfolio in cardiology, oncology, fibromyalgia and pain relief,” said Ken Keller, president, U.S. commercial, Daiichi Sankyo. “This calls for us to restructure our organization into a smaller, highly targeted and efficient operating model, with a greater emphasis on customer-facing roles.”

As part of the reorganization, the company will reduce expenses, including a reduction in headcount, from its U.S. commercial operations. The company expects to eliminate 1,000 to 1,200 positions, through voluntary and involuntary displacements as well as eliminating open positions. The eliminated jobs will come from the U.S. commercial home office in Parsippany, as well as field-based sales and other positions throughout the country. The reorganization is not focused on U.S.-based R&D functions, which have staff concentrated in Edison, N.J., or its packaging plant in Bethlehem, Pa.