On 18 November 2011, a supplement made possible through an unrestricted educational grant by Novo Nordisk was published by the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. The supplement, “From biology to policy: The link between maternal health and current and future burden of chronic noncommunicable disease,” brings increased awareness on the foundation for lifelong risk and susceptibility of non-communicable diseases, focusing on root causes beginning in the womb and in early life — now referred to by the term Developmental Origins of Health and Disease.

The articles and commentaries in the supplement authored by leading maternal and child health experts recommend actions and provide evidence aimed at furthering the outcomes from the United Nations High-level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases held in New York in September 2011.

“It is a great step in the right direction that diabetes and other non-communicable diseases are now on the global agenda. We have to follow-up with action and Novo Nordisk believes that maternal health is one of the key places to start,” says Charlotte Ersbøll, Corporate Vice President at Novo Nordisk and co-author of one of the supplement articles.

The supplement takes a comprehensive view on the burgeoning non-communicable disease epidemic and promotes the need to move Developmental Origins of Health and Disease evidence to policy change and action. Through a series of articles authored by medical researchers, non-governmental organisation managing directors and industrial executives, a broad evidence base ranging from biology and epidemiology to policy and implementations is presented to highlight the link between promoting maternal health and the impact it has on reducing the future health burden of non-communicable diseases.

The supplement is available on the World Diabetes Federations website here.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with 88 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 32,000 employees in 74 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk’s B shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen (Novo-B). Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO).

Novo Nordisk strives to conduct its activities in a financially, environmentally and socially responsible way. 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. Novo Nordisk is listed in the 2010/2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices with a gold class rating. For more information, visit novonordisk.com/sustainability.

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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