Between 2010 and 2011, drugmakers trimmed their sales teams by 7 percent. But despite the huge number of sales reps being thrown overboard in recent years, select hiring does still occur. The obvious impetus is when a new drug is approved by the FDA. Of course, such hiring may not compensate for lost jobs, but several drugmakers last year did grow their sales forces, according to a new report from Cegedim Strategic Data. Among them was Boehringer Ingelheim, which expanded its rep roster by 15 percent as part of a big promotional push for the Pradaxa bloodthinner. Next up was Novo Nordisk, which increased the number of reps by 13 percent, partly in response to new competition in the diabetes market. Other big drugmakers that added reps included AstraZeneca, Warner Chilcott and Dainipon Sumitomo Pharma. Exact numbers, however, were not available.
