In its efforts to focus more on diabetes market, Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc would merge its existing primary care and specialty sales forces into a single organisation and bring a specialty approach to endocrinologists and diabetes-focused primary care physicians.

The changes are expected to be implemented in the next several weeks and will reduce the total number of Amylin sales representatives by approximately 35 per cent, or 200 employees, and will result in an annualised benefit of approximately $45 million to GAAP operating results in 2010.

The new sales approach is part of Amylin's continuing efforts to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of exenatide alliance operations with partner Eli Lilly and Company, and to maximize the value of the company's current and future portfolio of first-in-class diabetes products. The changes to Amylin's field sales organization will be coordinated and aligned with the continuing exenatide sales efforts of Lilly. Amylin's resulting field sales organization will include approximately 325 sales representatives focused on endocrinologists and other physicians that treat significant numbers of diabetes patients. Lilly will continue their efforts within the endocrinology and larger primary care prescriber market to support Byetta (exenatide) injection. Overall, these changes will better position the companies for the anticipated launch of exenatide once weekly.

"This new, more focused approach to sales optimizes Amylin's sales organization for our portfolio today and in the future, and will enable us to improve the quality of our interactions with core prescribers through more efficient and frequent interactions. These changes build on Amylin's scientific strength, and leverage Lilly's expertise and reach with primary care prescribers, so that we are well positioned to address the information needs of the complex diabetes market," said Daniel M Bradbury, president and chief executive officer at Amylin Pharmaceuticals. "Today's actions are in line with our stated goal of achieving positive operating cash flow by the end of 2010, while continuing to position the company to increase sales of Byetta and Symlin and bring exenatide once weekly to market as quickly as possible."

Bradbury continued, "We appreciate the significant contributions of field sales employees who will be affected by the announcement and are grateful for their efforts and dedication to Amylin's mission."

The sales force changes will result in an annualized benefit of approximately $45 million in GAAP operating results in 2010, and a partial year benefit of approximately $20 million in 2009, which includes reductions in field sales staff and expenses, partially offset by additional cost-sharing for Lilly's primary care sales efforts. As a result of these expense reductions, which are primarily cash expenses, the company estimates that total GAAP operating expenses for 2009 will now be at the lower end of the previously stated guidance range of $600 million to $625 million, and GAAP operating loss will also be at the lower end of the previously stated guidance range of $175 million to $200 million. This guidance for GAAP operating loss excludes a restructuring charge, estimated to be approximately $13 to $15 million, which the company will record in the second quarter, consisting of primarily severance and other employee-related costs.

Amylin Pharma is a biopharmaceutical company committed to improving lives through the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines.