Schering-Plough Corp.

With sales flagging and cost-cutting at a premium, pharmaceutical companies have notified New Jersey of plans to trim or relocate more than 800 jobs in the coming months. The biggest hit is from Schering-Plough, which plans to cut at least 500 jobs statewide as part of a previously announced reduction of 5,500 positions world-wide, according to a spokesman. This is the first time the Kenilworth drugmaker, which has been hurt by declining sales of its cholesterol drug franchise, has given a number for layoffs in the Garden State. The Schering-Plough job cuts include a range of positions, but not manufacturing. Most of the layoffs will occur in Kenilworth, with lesser "streamlining actions" in Berkeley Heights, Roseland, Springfield, Summit and Union, the company said.