Takeda has outlined additional details of its workforce reduction, indicating that approximately 634 employees in the United States will be affected, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice. The disclosure follows the company’s previously announced business transformation and provides a breakdown of the expected impact.
Employee notifications began on March 25, the same day Takeda announced its restructuring initiative, which includes streamlining corporate functions. The company stated in the WARN notice that the total number of affected employees could change as individuals pursue redeployment opportunities within its global operations.
Of the total reductions, 247 positions are located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. These cuts are scheduled to take effect between July 1, 2026, and December 31, 2027. The remaining 387 roles are based in other U.S. states. Additional details on the geographic distribution of layoffs are expected from a document referenced in the WARN filing.
The restructuring is expected to generate savings of more than 200 billion yen, equivalent to approximately $1.25 billion, by fiscal year 2028. Takeda stated that these savings will be used to offset investments required for multiple planned product launches, including oveporexton, usfertide, and zasocitinib, as well as to support late-stage pipeline development and strategic technology investments.
Zasocitinib, an oral tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, is among the programs highlighted by the company. In Phase 3 Latitude PsO 3001 and 3002 studies involving adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, more than half of the patients treated with the drug candidate achieved clear or almost clear skin at week 16. The therapy also showed statistically significant improvements in complete skin clearance. Takeda expects to submit a new drug application for zasocitinib in fiscal year 2026.
The company acquired zasocitinib from Nimbus Therapeutics for $4 billion in late 2022. In December 2025, Takeda reported Phase 3 LATITUDE study results showing that approximately 30% of treated patients achieved complete skin clearance, defined as a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score of 100, when compared with placebo and Amgen’s Otezla.
The latest workforce reduction follows a series of job cuts over the past two years. Takeda reduced nearly 1,500 roles across the United States and Austria in 2024 and early 2025. In October 2025, 137 positions were impacted when the company ended efforts in the cell therapy field at its Massachusetts research and development site. Earlier this year, Takeda also announced plans to cut 243 field-based roles in its U.S. neuroscience business unit.
According to the WARN notice, implementation timing will depend on business needs and the timing of work winding down, with some changes extending into the following year. “The total number of job reductions may evolve as employees pursue and accept redeployment opportunities,” the company said in the filing.
The restructuring follows earlier actions linked to the loss of market exclusivity for Vyvanse and the anticipated patent expiration of Trintellix. Takeda has also reported restructuring costs of 128 billion yen, or approximately $800 million, for the fiscal year ended March 2025, during which its headcount declined by more than 1,800 employees.
Why Takeda Issued the WARN Notice
The WARN notice from Takeda is part of a calculated move to streamline business functions and redirect resources toward innovative therapies. As Takeda continues to evolve, the company is prioritizing efficiency and focusing on therapeutic areas with the highest growth potential. This restructuring allows Takeda to remain competitive in a rapidly changing pharmaceutical landscape.
