Despite continuing challenges in the global economic environment, 2009 was a successful year for Novo Nordisk with solid sales in all business areas, continued improvement in the gross margin and progress in the clinical development pipeline for key projects in both diabetes care and biopharmaceuticals. The company's accomplishments during the year, including strong performance against social and environmental targets, are reported in its sixth annual integrated report.

During 2009, Novo Nordisk:

• Increased sales by 11% (in local currencies) and by 12% in Danish kroner to DKK 51,078 million compared to 2008.


• Increased reported operating profit by 21% to DKK 14,933 million compared to 2008.


• Maintained global leadership in diabetes care with 51% of the total insulin market.


• Reduced CO₂ emissions by 32% and water consumption by 20%.


• Increased its workforce by 8% to 29,329 employees at year end to support sales growth and a strong pipeline of future treatments.


• Expanded support for healthcare capacity building in developing countries by donating 82 million DKK to the World Diabetes Foundation and the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation.


• Diagnosed and enrolled more than 400 children with type 1 diabetes in the Changing Diabetes® in Children programme, which builds sustainable partnerships to offer diabetes care, including free insulin.

In the absence of global standards for inclusive reporting, the report was prepared in respect of international standards for mandatory and voluntary reporting:

• International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).


• The accountability standard, the AA1000 (2008) Framework, which includes AA1000APS(2008) and AA1000AS(2008).


• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) G3 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines.


• UN Global Compact, Communication on Progress.


• US Sarbanes"“Oxley Act requirements for financial reporting. Novo Nordisk has also embarked on a process of structuring the control environment for non-financial data with the aspiration to have full alignment with the control environment for financial data.

About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs over 29,300 employees in 76 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For more information, visit novonordisk.com.

Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. We believe that a healthy economy, environment and society are fundamental to long-term value creation. This is why we manage our business in accordance with the Triple Bottom Line business principle and consider the financial, environmental and social impact of our business decisions. The strategic commitment to corporate sustainability has brought the company onto centre stage as a leading player in today's business environment, recognised for its integrated reporting, stakeholder engagement and consistently high sustainability performance.

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