Novartis plans to cut 300 jobs at Neb. plant

Novartis says it plans to trim production at Neb. plant and cut 300 jobs over next 2 years

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Novartis plans to trim production and cut about 300 jobs from its Lincoln, Neb. payroll.

The Swiss pharmaceutical company said Wednesday that the job cuts will occur over the next two years, leaving about 450 workers to concentrate on making three products: Excedrin, Theraflu and a veterinary medication, Sentinel.

Novartis says the production cutback will let the plant "focus on operational excellence with minimal product complexity."

The plant shut down completely in December 2011 because of quality-control issues raised in Food and Drug Administration inspections. Novartis said this past January that it had resumed limited production at the plant.