Sage Therapeutics, Inc. is reorganizing its business operations and pipeline priorities to support goals for long-term business growth, including the planned commercial launch of ZURZUVAE for women with postpartum depression (PPD) in late 2023.

Following a strategic review, the company will refine pipeline development efforts to advance SAGE-718 and SAGE-324, as well as pause certain earlier-stage programs, implement a ~40% workforce reduction to help achieve sustained growth and allow for commercial hires to support the launch of ZURZUVAE, and align its leadership team structure to scale with pipeline and commercial priorities.

Sage’s chief scientific officer, Al Robichaud, decided to leave the company. He will remain as a scientific consultant and member of Sage’s medicinal chemistry and preclinical Scientific Advisory Boards.

Mike Quirk will be promoted from senior vice president of Discovery Research to chief scientific officer. In his new role, Quirk will lead Sage’s research and non-clinical development organizations.

Jim Doherty, chief development officer will leave the company to pursue new opportunities and Laura Gault, chief medical officer, will assume Doherty’s responsibilities.

Additionally, Chris Benecchi, chief business officer, will oversee medical affairs following the departure of Mark Pollack, senior vice president of medical affairs who is leaving the company to pursue new opportunities.

“Our goal is to think big, start small and scale fast as we look to launch ZURZUVAE and help women suffering with PPD,” said Barry Greene, CEO at Sage Therapeutics. “Executing on launch and our potential long-term growth catalysts requires us to allocate resources strategically. Part of our efforts to become a leaner and stronger company means having to reorganize our workforce. The departing employees contributed so much to our mission and I’m grateful for their incredible dedication to helping patients. Our business fundamentals are strong, we are well capitalized, and our goal is to put Sage in a solid position to optimize commercial execution and develop our pipeline with the goal of significant value creation.”