NOVO NORDISK DISCONTINUES WORK WITH SMALL MOLECULES
Danish
drugmaker Novo Nordisk announced it has decided to focus all its R&D resources
on its growing pipeline of protein-based pharmaceuticals. As a result of this
decision, the company's R&D activities involving small molecules for oral
treatment of diabetes will be discontinued and existing projects divested.
Since 2002 Novo Nordisk has increased its focus on pharmaceuticals based on
therapeutic proteins, and the company's pipeline of protein-based pharmaceuticals
for diabetes, growth disorders and other diseases is now larger than ever.
"Our core competences lie within therapeutic proteins, and it is within
this area that we can make the greatest difference in terms of patient outcomes
and company growth. Therefore, it is a logical move to focus all our research
and development efforts on this area," Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, chief scientific
officer and executive vice president, said.
Existing preclinical and clinical
small-molecule projects, including NN9101 (a glucokinase activator project currently
in Phase I clinical testing) are expected to be out-licensed.
The decision
will have a direct effect on approximately 180 employees. The company estimates
that it will be possible to offer other positions within the company to approximately
half of these employees.