Eisai’s R&D organization, Eisai Product Creation Systems (EPCS), is restructuring and will cut 180 jobs.

Previously, EPCS had a centralized management model within a single Core Function Unit (CFU) for clinical support functions worldwide. The new model has transferred those management responsibilities to other Product Creation Units/CFUs in order to streamline communications and decision making. Other key clinical support functions, such as those for statistical analysis and clinical pharmacology, have been placed under the direct jurisdiction of the chief clinical officer in an effort to further improve clinical success rates. The former Scientific and Operational Clinical Support (SOCS) CFU has also been dissolved as part of these changes.

Additionally, regarding drug discovery in neuroscience at Eisai's EMEA Knowledge Center (EKC) in the U.K., focus on the Open Innovation function, which primarily conducts joint research with University College London, has been increased, while the EKC's medicinal chemistry function has been dissolved.

To support advancements in Eisai's development pipeline, functions for small-molecule process development have been consolidated in Japan (Kashima, Tsukuba) and India (Vizag), while the related functions at the Andover, Mass., site have been dissolved. Andover will continue to serve as the discovery research hub in the U.S.

In order to further strengthen and promote development of biopharmaceuticals as next-generation drugs, the biopharmaceutical development functions that had been divided between research sites in the U.S. (Exton, Andover) have been consolidated into the newly established Biopharmaceutical Development Department, located at the Exton site.

The reorganizations will result in the reduction of approximately 130 positions in Europe and the U.S.