Swiss drugmaker Novartis has announced plans to split its Pharmaceutical division into two business units, Novartis Pharmaceutical and Novartis Oncology. The first-mentioned will incorporate all of the company’s ethical drugs business except cancer treatments and include the franchises Neuroscience, Ophthalmology, Immunology and Dermatology, Respiratory, Cardio-Metabolic and Established Medicines.

Together, the two new business units will form the company’s Innovative Medicines Division (which replaces the Pharmaceuticals division). The leader of each business unit will join the Novartis executive Committee with effect from Jul. 1, 2016.

As part of the realignment, David Epstein, current CEO of the Novartis Pharmaceuticals division, will leave the company and “explore new challenges from the US.” CEO-designate of Novartis Pharmaceuticals is Paul Hudson, while Bruno Strigini is slated to become CEO of Novartis Oncology. Both will report directly to group CEO Joseph Jimenez.

Hudson is currently executive vice president, North America, at British-Swedish drugmker AstraZeneca and a member of that company’s executive committee. Novartis said the manager has experience in particular in cardiovascular and immunology, which complement the Swiss company’s major product launches. He will be based at the global headquarters of the Innovative Medicines Division and the Pharmaceuticals business unit in Basel, Switzerland.

Strigini, who at present heads Novartis Oncology, will lead the Oncology business unit, comprised of the franchises Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapies. The executive who joined Novartis in 2014 from Merck & Co. of the US to lead the oncology business is said to have been instrumental in the successful integration of the oncology assets acquired from GSK last year for $16 billion. He will also be based in Basel.

Novartis said the new divisional structure reflects the importance of oncology to the company following the successful integration of the GSK assets. The Swiss drugmaker said it expects the changes to help drive its growth and innovation strategy, with an increased focus and improved execution for both the Oncology and Pharmaceuticals business units.

The new Innovative Medicines Division accounts for two-thirds of the company’s sales. Other parts of the Novartis group include Sandoz, the generics and biosimilar division, which includes the Retail Generics, Anti-Infectives and Biopharmaceuticals franchises; and Alcon, the eye care devices division, which includes the Surgical and Vision Care franchises.

The divisions will be supported by Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Global Drug Development and Novartis Operations, which includes Technical Operations and Novartis Business Services.