NORTH NORWICH – In mid February, Norwich Pharmaceuticals Inc. quietly let go 50 production and salaried employees, or about 10 percent of its workforce.

According to an announcement yesterday, the downsizing came as a result of fewer customer orders and delayed U.S. Food and Drug Administration approvals for one of the company’s (former OSG Pharmaceuticals) major accounts. Management did not disclose the name of the product.

“Since our production volume is determined by customer demand, our future success is closely linked to the success in getting products approved by the FDA and creating market demand with consumers. We are taking all possible steps to stabilize our business and our workforce, but the future continues to hold unknowns,” President Christopher R. Calhoun said.

One of Chenango County’s top four employers, Norwich Pharmaceuticals employed about 390 people in 2007. By the end of 2008, that number had increased to 450.

Public Relations Director Ric Festarini said management decided not to make the development known to the media because many of the workers were rehired temporarily.

“A lot of them have been rehired for a spike in work, but are here essentially temporarily,” he said.