Takeda Faces Major Job Cuts at European Headquarters in Opfikon Amid Financial Struggles and Low Growth Prospects

Takeda, the largest Japanese drug manufacturer, is facing major job cuts at its European headquarters in Opfikon. Despite being little known in Switzerland, the company employs almost 2,000 people in the country, making it one of the important employers in the local pharmaceutical industry.

The company is under great cost pressure due to a combination of factors including deteriorated profitability, high levels of debt from the acquisition of competitor Shire and loss of patent protection for one of its key revenue drivers, the drug Vyvanse. To address these challenges, Takeda is looking to cut costs by 5 to 25 percent.

The company is also facing challenges in refreshing its product pipeline and digitalizing its business processes. The lack of new high-sales products in the short to medium term and lagging behind competitors in digital transformation could result in job cuts.

Takeda’s future growth prospects seem weak with analysts expecting little to no growth over the next four years. The company’s margins are also under pressure due to digitalization initiatives and cost-cutting measures which could impact thousands of jobs at its headquarters in Opfikon and production plant in Neuchâtel.

Takeda has a challenging road ahead as it navigates through financial difficulties, low growth prospects and changing landscape of the pharmaceutical industry. The company must find a way to improve profitability, refresh its product pipeline and embrace digital transformation to secure its position in the market.