Company history: 1975-1990

After 60 years of growth, Lundbeck had so many different departments and products, it was almost impossible to maintain overview. The number of activities clearly needed to be reduced. In the future, the company would focus exclusively on the development, production and sale of medicines for the treatment of illnesses of the central nervous system.

Oluf Hübner and Olaf Thrane retired within four years of each other, ending an era at Lundbeck. Both could look back at careers stretching over 40 years, during which they had moulded the company's success. But history-rich Lundbeck needed modern changes. Responsibility was handed over to P.V. Petersen, who also remained in charge of research and development.

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Microbiological research was eliminated immediately after Oluf Hübner s departure. The odds of discovering new sources of antibiotics were not much better than winning the national lottery. The number of research projects was greatly reduced at the same time. Future efforts would concentrate on the fields that were expected to yield the biggest financial dividends.

This also meant closure of the Cosmetics Department and the old agencies. Lundbeck had sold hair dyes, deodorants, and sun lotions up until the end of the 1970s. These were now discarded, along with the agencies for essences and oils for the confectionery industry, large rolls of industrial aluminium foil, and machines for producing soap.

Part of Lundbeck's "spring-cleaning" operation meant that all energies were concentrated on developing Lundbeck's position in pharmaceuticals related to the central nervous system. With its original preparations such as Truxal®, Fluanxol®, Cisordinol®, Saroten®, and Noritren®, Lundbeck demonstrated its ability to improve the quality of life for people suffering from mental illnesses. The company goal was to develop even better treatments with greater efficacy and, whenever possible, fewer side effects.

But the results were hard earned and didn't come quickly. Lundbeck's earnings in the 1980s were disappointing. As if the development of new medicines wasn't already a long and drawn-out affair, continuous regulation for environmental and safety improvements required major investments. For example, Cipramil® was under development for 15 years before it was finally introduced in Denmark in 1989. Two years later Erik Sprunk-Jansen replaced P.V. Petersen as the man to lead Lundbeck forward.

Continue to company history: 1990-2003

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