Par to restructure branded business

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. — As part of a strategic assessment, generic drug maker Par Pharmaceutical is set to restructure its branded division.

The company said last week that its restructuring of Strativa Pharmaceuticals will result in a reduced workforce, prompting one-time noncash charges in the second quarter in addition to severance costs, although Par said the restructuring will generate expense savings in the $8 to $12 million range for the remainder of the year.

"To achieve our goal of optimizing Strativa's potential, we found it necessary to reduce the number of sales representatives and focus on Megace ES and Nascobal at this time," Par chairman, president and CEO Patrick LePore said. "We remain fully committed to the branded business and believe it is a valuable platform for future growth."