Schering AG, the world’s biggest maker of birth-control pills, plans to eliminate 900 jobs and close down half of its 24 production sites, seeking to restore earnings growth after a second year of declining profit.

SCHERING, the world’s biggest maker of birth-control pills, said full-year earnings per share will fall 3% to 6% after reporting a profit in the third quarter as more people used its Betaseron multiple sclerosis treatment and Yasmin birth-control pill.