Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd has decided to stop R&D activities related to oncology and women's health, and focusing more on core therapeutic areas like Central Nervous System (CNS) and respiratory. As a result of the strategic review, Teva has identified 14 pipeline projects for discontinuation or divestment. These projects amount to more than $150 million in R&D costs in 2015 and in excess of $200 million for each of 2016 and 2017. These cost savings will be directed, in part, to increasing resources in Teva's core therapeutic areas, while another part of which will support the company's efficiency objective. This increased investment in core therapeutic areas will increase R&D productivity, without increasing the overall R&D budget.

The review included an extensive evaluation of Teva’s current and future capabilities to address unmet patient needs, the competitive landscape, barriers to entry and profitability with the purpose of creating a winning strategy to achieve global leadership in each of the company's core therapeutic areas.

The Company reaffirmed its long-term commitment to develop patient-centric solutions and significantly grow its specialty medicines business through investment in research & development, marketing, business development and innovation, while strengthening its commercial infrastructure and expanding its offering of patient centric solutions. The core therapeutic areas on which Teva will focus and where it has been establishing a leading position are Central Nervous System (including multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases and pain) and Respiratory (including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

“Teva is committed to being a world-leader in CNS and Respiratory, both areas underpinned by significant and growing unmet patient needs. With our existing portfolio, integrated global R&D and innovation capabilities, we are in a strong position to deliver for patients and payers, and to generate long-term value for our shareholders,” stated Teva’s president and chief executive officer,
Erez Vigodman. “Our late-stage pipeline assets are expected to generate great value out of the 30 plus product launches we anticipate by 2019, with a total of over $4 billion in new revenue on a risk-adjusted basis, over 20 products will be launched in these two core therapeutic areas.”

In other therapeutic areas, such as Women’s Health and Oncology, where Teva has a significant commercial presence, the company will focus on market-ready or close-to-market assets to maximise sustainable profitability. In addition, Teva will continue to evaluate opportunities for commercially-oriented activities and collaborations.

Vigodman continued, “The decision announced today demonstrates progress in our efforts to solidify the foundation of the company, drive organic growth and ensure that we are pursuing the highest potential opportunities, both for patients and for the company. It will allow us to more efficiently and effectively focus and build leadership in key disease areas and deliver sustainable long-term value.”

The company will discuss this decision following its strategic review as well as other financial information as part of its third-quarter earnings presentation.