MSD cuts 1,800 jobs in US operations restructure

MSD has revealed its intention to cut 1,800 sales positions from its workforce in the US. Across the total number, the cuts include the elimination of US sales teams in primary care, endocrinology and hospital chronic care. In their place, the company will add 960 positions with the formation of a new chronic care sales force.

This new force will focus on key products in the company’s pipeline including its diabetes treatment Januvia (sitagliptin) and insomnia therapy Belsomra (suvorexant) in addition to women’s health and respiratory disease products.

It should be noted however that this still leaves 840 positions which will not be replaced, and the company has confirmed it will not be shifting the roles to outside the US.

The move follows MSD’s decision not to seek regulatory approval for its cholesterol therapy anacetrapib after it failed to achieve adequate results during clinical trials, as well as the discontinuation of its development of a drug combination to treat chronic hepatitis C last month.

"This is part of ongoing prioritisation efforts and the ebb and flow of our business means that at the same time we're eliminating certain US jobs, we're also adding new US jobs in growth areas," the spokeswoman explained, continuing "these changes are part of ongoing company-wide efforts to sharpen Merck's focus on innovative R&D that addresses significant unmet medical needs and on our best opportunities for growth, while reducing overall costs."