Novo Nordisk

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Novo Nordisk A/S

Type Publicly traded Aktieselskab(OMX: NOVO

B,NYSE: NVO)

Industry Pharmaceuticals, health care

Founded 1923

Headquarters Bagsværd, Denmark

Key people Sten Scheibye (Chairman), Lars Rebien

Sørensen (President andCEO), Jesper Brandgaard(CFO)

Products Activella, Novolin,

Levemir, NovoSeven

Revenue DKK 60.78 billion (2010)[1]

Operating DKK 18.89 billion (2010)[1]

income

Profit DKK 14.40 billion (2010)[1]

 Total assets DKK 61.40 billion (end 2010)[1]

Total equity DKK 36.97 billion (end 2010)[1]

Employees 30,480 (end 2010)[1]

Website www.novonordisk.com

Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services. Created in 1989 through a
merger of two Danish companies dating back to the 1920s, it has become one of the world's leading
companies in diabetes care, where Novo Nordisk pursues research into pulmonary delivery systems; other
companies, such as Medtronic, have expanded into insulin pump systems. Novo Nordisk also commands large
sectors of the markets in haemostasismanagement, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement
therapy.

With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk has international production facilities in seven countries, with
affiliates or offices in 76 countries. Novo Nordisk employs approximately 29,000 people globally (as of Q4
2009), and markets its products in 179 countries.

Novo Nordisk is a full member of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and
Associations (EFPIA).[2]

Novo Nordisk has been ranked 25 among 100 Best companies to work for 2010 by Fortune.[3]

Contents

• 1 Collaborative

Research

○ 1.1 Toxicogen

omics

○ 1.2 Diabetes

• 2 Pharmaceutical Brands

○ 2.1 Levemir

○ 2.2 NovoLog/

NovoRapid

○ 2.3 NovoLog

Mix 70/30
 ○ 2.4 Novolin R

○ 2.5 NovoSeve

○ 2.6 Norditropi

○ 2.7 Victoza

• 3 Logo

• 4 Unite for Diabetes

• 5 Victoza controversy

• 6 Timeline

• 7 See also

• 8 References

• 9 External links

[ edit]Collaborative Research
[edit]Toxicogenomics

In addition to internal research and development activities Novo Nordisk is also involved in publicly funded
collaborative research projects, with other industrial and academic partners. One example in the area of non-
clinical safety assessment is the InnoMed PredTox.[4][5] The company is expanding its activities in joint research
projects within the framework of the Innovative Medicines Initiative ofEFPIA and the European Commission.[6]

[edit]Diabetes

Novo Nordisk founded the World Diabetes foundation[7] to save the lives of those affected by diabetes in
developing countries and were instrumental in achieving a UN resolution to fight diabetes, making diabetes the
only other disease alongside HIV / AIDS to have a commitment to combat at a UN level.

[ edit]Pharmaceutical Brands
[edit]Levemir

Levemir is the company brand name for insulin detemir [recombinant DNA origin]. It is a long-acting insulin
analog with a subsitited Lys-(N-tetra decanoyl) for B28, the 28th amino acid on the B chain of insulin. It is a
soluble insulin analog for injection.[8] Levemir is used to treat adult patients with diabetes for the control of high
blood sugar.[9]
[edit]NovoLog/NovoRapid

NovoLog is the company brand name for insulin aspart, a rapid-acting soluble insulin for injection. It has a
substituted aspartic acid for proline on B28 .[8]

[edit]NovoLog Mix 70/30

Novolog mix is a 70% insulin aspart protamine suspension and 30% insulin aspart for injection.[8]

[edit]Novolin R
Novolin R is the company brand name for regular insulin.

[edit]NovoSeven

NovoSeven is a recombinant factor VII. It is a vitamin K-dependent gycosylated serine protease proenzyme. It
is used in the treatment of hemophilia in cases of bleeding episodes or prevention of bleeding in surgical
intervention. NovoSeven is intended for intravenous bolus injection.[10]

[edit]Norditropin

Norditropin is a brand name for somatropin, a polypeptide hormone of recombinant DNA origin. It contains the
identical sequence of 191 amino acids in naturally occurring pituitary human growth hormone (hGH).

[edit]Victoza

Main article: Liraglutide

[ edit]Logo
The Novo Nordisk logo since the year after the company’s foundation is the Apis bull, one of the sacred
animals of ancient Egypt. The Apis bull was worshipped as the incarnation of Ptah, creator of the universe, city
god of Memphis and the patron deity of craftsmen. The logo is a stylised reproduction of an Egyptian statuette
dating from circa 664–323 BC. It is richly ornamented with symbols representing, among other things, the
eternal dualities of life, day and night, life and death. The choice of the logo follows an old European chemist's
tradition of identifying pharmacies by an animal symbol.

[ edit]Unite for Diabetes

Novo Nordisk have sponsored the International Diabetes Federation's Unite for Diabetes campaign — one of
many campaigns that helped to successfully pass UN Resolution 61/225, making November 14 World Diabetes
Day.[11]

The company has also launched the Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes World Tour — a truck that folds out into
an educational and awareness-developing bus. The vehicle was launched in Copenhagenin September 2005
and has visited Europe, Africa, Australia, Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the United States. The bus journey
culminated in being stationed in New York City for the inauguralWorld Diabetes Day on November 14, 2007.[12]

[ edit]Victoza controversy
In 2010 Novo Nordisk breached the ABPIs code of conduct by failing to provide information about side-effects
of Victoza and by promoting Victoza prior to being granted market authorization.[13]

[ edit]Timeline
Novo Nordisk was created in 1989 through a merger between two Danish companies – Novo Industri A/S and
Nordisk Gentofte A/S.

 1923 Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium (later Nordisk Gentofte) founded by Hans

Christian Hagedorn.[14]

 1925 Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium (later Novo Industri) founded.

 1932 Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium founds the Steno Memorial Hospital.

 1938 Novo founds Hvidøre Diabetes Sanatorium.

 1941 Novo launches its first enzyme, trypsin, extracted from the pancreas of
animals and used for bating leather before tanning.

 1946 Nordisk develops isophane insulin, branded as Neutral Protamine

Haegdorn or NPH insulin, a neutral insulin with prolonged action.

 1947 Penicillin Novo is launched – Novo's first product to be manufactured

through fermentation.

 1953 Lente – a long-acting insulin zinc suspension – is launched.

 1963 Alcalase – Novo's first detergent enzyme produced by fermentation.

 1973 Nordisk Gentofte markets Nanormon growth hormone for the treatment
of growth hormone insufficiency. The growth hormone is extracted from
human pituitary glands.

 1973 Monocomponent (MC) insulin is introduced – the purest insulin available

at the time.

 1974 Novo's B shares are quoted on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

 1977 Trisequens – sequential combined oral hormone replacement therapy

(HRT) for peri-menopausal women – is marketed.
 1977 Novo enters the U.S. insulin market, but based on market share data,
the company was a very marginal player.

 1978 In an effort to alleviate its product and quality problems in the U.S.
insulin market, E.R. Squibb & Sons contracts with Novo. Novo becomes the
single bulk supplier of insulin for Squibb.

 1981 Novo becomes the first company in Scandinavia to be quoted on the

New York Stock Exchange.

 1982 Novo enters into a 50/50 U.S. joint venture with E.R. Squibb & Sons,
known as Squibb-Novo, based in Princeton, NJ. Squibb-Novo became the
distributor for Novo insulin sold in the U.S. market, with Novo focused on
producing insulin, and Squibb focused on distributing and selling the product.
The joint venture is able to significantly increase Novo's U.S. market share.

 1982 'Human' Monocomponent insulin is launched in the U.S. – the world's

first insulin preparation which is structurally identical to human insulin. It is
extracted from the pancreas of pigs and converted to human insulin
chemically.

 1983 Novo Industri A/S enters a joint venture with Canada's Connaught
Laboratories, considered to be the birthplace of insulin. Under the terms of
the agreement, Novo agreed to manufacture insulin in Canada for distribution
by Connaught. Novo Laboratories Ltd. agreed to lease, modernize and
operate Connaught's insulin production facilities. Another subsidiary
company, Connaught-Novo, was jointly owned by both parent companies.
Connought Laboratories was privatized by the Mulroney government in 1985.

 1985 NovoPen – an injection system similar in appearance to a fountain pen,

with replaceable insulin cartridges – is launched.

 1987 Novo starts production of human insulin with the help of genetically
engineered yeast cells using recombinant DNA technology.

 1988 Nordisk Gentofte markets Norditropin genetically engineered human

growth hormone.

 1989 Novo Industri A/S and Nordisk Gentofte A/S merge to become Novo
Nordisk A/S, the world's leading producer of insulin.

 1989 Following the merger of Novo and Nordisk, and the merger of Bristol-
Myers and E.R. Squibb & Sons in the U.S., the Squibb-Novo joint venture in
 the U.S. market was dissolved. Novo purchased Squibb's 50% share and all
rights to the joint U.S. diabetes care business.

 1989 NovoLet – the world's first prefilled insulin syringe – is marketed.

 1992 The Steno Memorial Hospital and Hvidøre Hospital merge to form
the Steno Diabetes Center.

 1994 Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. and Connaught Laboratories Ltd. announced
a distribution agreement, which replaced their joint venture which was known
as Connaught Novo Nordisk Inc. Under the terms of the agreement,
Connaught received a financial consideration and a percentage fee for
distribution services related to Novo Nordisk Canada's diabetes care products.
Connaught continued to distribute Novo Nordisk Canada's diabetes products
in Canada and Bermuda.

 1996 NovoSeven – for the treatment of haemophilia patients with inhibitor

reaction – is launched.

 1998 NovoNorm/Prandin, a new oral treatment for type 2 diabetes, is

launched in the US and a number of European countries.

 1998 Activelle – the first low-dose continuous combined oral HRT for post-
menopausal women – is introduced.

 1999 Novo Nordisk publishes its first social report.

 1999 Christian Karsten Hansen and Jan Møller Mikkelsen leave Novo Nordisk
to found Profound Pharma A/S which is acquired by Maxygen in 2000.

 1999 Innovo, the world's first insulin doser with a built-in electronic memory, is
launched in Europe.

 1999 Novorapid (Novolog in the U.S.) – a rapid-acting insulin analogue – is

marketed.

 1999 Norditropin SimpleXx – the world’s first liquid growth hormone in a

dedicated pen system – is launched.

 2000 Novofem, a low-dose sequential combined oral HRT, is marketed in

Germany. Two years later it is launched in several other European countries.

 2000 Novo Nordisk is split into three separate companies operating under the
umbrella of the Novo Group: Novo Nordisk A/S, Novozymes A/S and Novo
A/S.
  2001 InnoLet – the first insulin delivery system specially designed to suit the
needs of insulin users with poor eyesight and reduced dexterity – is launched.

 2001 InDuo – the world's first combined blood glucose monitor and insulin
injection system – is introduced.

 2001 NovoRapid/Novolog FlexPen and Insulatard (NPH) FlexPen are

marketed. FlexPen is a new disposable, prefilled insulin pen dosage device.

 2001 Novo Nordisk acquires the controlling interest in the Brazilian

pharmaceutical company Biobrás, the dominant insulin manufacturer in
Brazil.

 2002 NovoMix 30 FlexPen and NovoMix Penfill are introduced. NovoMix 30 is

a dual-release insulin analogue.

 2004 Levemir – a long-acting insulin analogue – is launched.

 2005 Novo Nordisk announced that the company had moved into a leadership
position in the U.S. insulin market for the first time ever based on the most
recent data on total insulin volume.[15]

 2008 Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. was named one of Greater Toronto's Top
Employers by Mediacorp Canada Inc. in October, which was announced by
the Toronto Star newspaper.[16]

 2009 Novo Nordisk was named as an ethical leader of international business

by think-tank Ethisphere.[17]

 2010 Victoza - the first once-daily human glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)

analog for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is approved for distribution in the
US.[18]

[ edit]See also
 NNIT (formerly Novo Nordisk IT)

 Repaglinide

[ edit]References
1. ^ a b c d e f "Annual Report 2010". Novo Nordisk. Retrieved 6 February 2011.

2. ^ "The Pharmaceutical Industry in Figures - 2008 Edition". European

Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). pp. 49.

Retrieved 2008-08-25.
 3. ^ Money.CNN.com

4. ^ Mattes WB (2008). "Public consortium efforts in toxicogenomics". Methods

in Molecular Biology 460: 221–38. doi:10.1007/978-1-60327-048-

9_11. PMID 18449490.

5. ^ "InnoMed PredTox Member Organizations". Retrieved 2008-08-25.

6. ^ Innovative Medicines Initiative. "IMI Call Topics 2008". IMI-GB-018v2-

24042008-CallTopics.pdf. European Commission. Retrieved 2008-08-25.[dead
link]

7. ^ "World Diabetes Foundation website". Retrieved 2008-08-25.

8. ^ a b c “Insulin” Beals JM, DeFilippis MR, Kovach PM, Pharmaceutical

Biotechnology

9. ^ "Patient Information Sheet, Insulin Detemir [rDNA origin Injection (marketed

as Levemir)"]. Archived from the original on 25 January 2008.

10. ^ “Recombinant Coagulation Factors and Thrombolytic Agents” Modi N,

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

11. ^ Wordldiabetesday.org

12. ^ Diabetesbus.novonordisk.com

13. ^ "Novo Nordisk Limited, Eli Lilly and Company Limited, Grünenthal Ltd and
Napp Pharmaceuticals Limited named in advertisements". Prescription

Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA). Retrieved 2011-02-07.

14. ^ Deckert T (August 2007). "Hans Christian Hagedorn (1888–1971)" (in

Danish). Ugeskrift for Laeger 169 (35): 2883. PMID 17877991.

15. ^ Novo Nordisk

16. ^ "Reasons for Selection, 2009 Greater Toronto's Top Employers

Competition".

17. ^ "Ethical leadership title to Novo companies".

18. ^ "Novo Nordisk's Victoza(R) Receives FDA Approval for Adults With Type 2
Diabetes".

[ edit]External links
 Official website
  Novo A/S Website

 Novo Nordisk Foundation Website

v·d·e OMX Copenhagen 20 companies of Denmark

A.P. Møller-Mærsk · Carlsberg · Chr. Hansen · Coloplast · Danisco · Danske Bank · DSV · FLSmidth & Co. · GN Store Nord · NKT Holding · Nordea · Novo

Systems · William Demant

Categories: Companies listed on the OMX exchanges | Companies listed on the New York Stock
Exchange | Pharmaceutical companies of Denmark | Biotechnology companies

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