Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. plans to more than double its U.S. sales staff in preparation for new drugs expected to come to market. According to a company statement, Daiichi Sankyo said it was also looking to expand its business through strategic investments, boost its European sales force and set up a new sales subsidiary in India.
U.S. medical representatives will be approximately 2,300 by the end of March 2010, up from 900. Sales staff at another U.S. unit will rise to 350 from 50. "The expansion of our sales base in the U.S. is an investment for the future as we have new products coming to market, ones that we expect to be major products," said chief executive Takashi Shoda.
Among its new drug candidates are prasugrel, a blood-thinning drug being developed with Eli Lilly & Co., CS-8663, a combination drug of olmesartan or Benicar, and amlodipine, and its cholesterol-lowering drug Welchol also to be used to treat diabetes.
In addition to new drugs, the company plans to assume full control of Benicar sales after its co-promotion contract with Forest Laboratories ends in March 2008.