Eisai Announces Significant U.S. Workforce Reduction Amid Strategic Restructuring

Japanese pharmaceutical giant Eisai has revealed plans to trim approximately 7% of its U.S. workforce as part of a strategic restructuring initiative. The move, aimed at improving operations and ensuring long-term sustainability, will impact 121 employees across the company's American operations, including its U.S. headquarters in Nutley, New Jersey.

Workforce Reduction Details

Eisai's workforce reduction will primarily affect its commercial, medical, and corporate functions. The layoffs are set to begin on March 31 and conclude by May 30, with 57 employees at the Nutley headquarters among those affected. While the company has not specified which other locations will be impacted, Eisai maintains operations in Baltimore, Exton, Pennsylvania, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Despite the cuts, an Eisai spokesperson emphasized the company's continued commitment to the U.S. market, stating, "Eisai remains fully committed to the U.S. market and will continue to serve the needs of patients and their families, particularly in addressing unmet medical needs in areas such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurological conditions."

Leqembi Sales and Regulatory Developments

The workforce reduction announcement comes amid mixed news for Eisai's Alzheimer's treatment, Leqembi (lecanemab). In January 2025, the FDA approved a monthly maintenance dosing regimen for the drug, potentially boosting its previously slow sales. However, Eisai had already adjusted its fiscal year 2024 sales forecast for Leqembi in November 2024, lowering it from $370 million to $280 million.

Recent financial reports indicate that Leqembi's U.S. revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 (October to December 2024) reached ¥7.7 billion ($51 million), representing a 30% quarter-on-quarter growth. This performance suggests the company is on track to meet its revised sales goal.

Leqembi's journey has been marked by both triumphs and challenges since its FDA approval in mid-2023. While it was hailed as the first anti-amyloid antibody approved for Alzheimer's treatment, the drug faced a setback in July 2024 when the European Union's health regulatory agency initially issued a negative opinion. However, this decision was reversed in November 2024, with the agency ultimately issuing a positive opinion on the drug's use.