Mochida Faces Up To Hard Times

Mochida Pharmaceutical of Japan has announced steps to combat itssignificant slowdown in business, including the reduction of 175 jobs to 2,000 by the end of 2000. However, the firm intends to maintain its number of sales reps (currently 800), though it plans to become more selective about the visits they make, according to the Nikkei Industrial Daily. Mochida is looking to increase the share of the top dozen wholesalers in Japan it deals with, of which there are 80, to 60%-70% from 50% at present. The firm says the refocusing of its sales strategy is meant to make the most of available resources, adding that it is unlikely to meet targeted sales of 63 billion yen ($463.1 million) this fiscal year.