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NOVO NORDISK DISCONTINUES WORK WITH SMALL MOLECULES

January 16, 2007

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.