BRIEF—Solasia slashes workforce in China

Japan’s Solasia Pharma plans to cut about 65% of its workforce in China citing challenges in its China businesses due to the country's strict Covid-zero approach that recently caused months-long lockdowns in major cities including Shanghai, where Solasia's China subsidiary is located.

To further cut costs, Solasia also transferred the distribution rights in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou of its two drugs – Suncuso (granisetron) and episil, both for the treatment of cancer-induced side effects, to the Hong Kong company Lee’s Pharma from the Shanghai subsidiary.

Lee's has been handling the China distribution of the two drugs outside the three cities since 2019. The transfer is expected to be completed by the end of July.