World's Largest Study on Insulin Therapy Completes Recruitment With 60,000 Patients

ZURICH, July 19, 2010 - Today, Novo Nordisk announced the landmark recruitment of the 60,000th
patient in the A1chieve(R) study - an observational study designed to
investigate the effects of modern insulins in the management of type 2
diabetes.[1]

Spanning 28 countries across 4 continents and involving more than 3300
physicians, A1chieve(R) is set to be the world's largest observational study
in insulin therapy.

Approximately 70 percent of the world's 285 million people with diabetes
are living in these 28 emerging countries where there is a rising need and
interest to look at differences in physician decisions in the management of
diabetes.[2]

"Multinational observational studies like A1chieve(R) provide valuable
insights in the way current therapies are applied when it comes to varying
cultural, economic and epidemiological circumstances," said Philip Home,
Professor of Diabetes Medicine at Newcastle University England and Chair of
the A1chieve(R) Global Advisory Board.

In order to mimic the natural secretion of insulin in the body,
commercially available insulin preparations are used in different ways
(regimens) based on an individual's need and prevailing local practices.
However it is important to evaluate these different regimens in a real life
setting.

"Once completed A1chieve(R) will provide locally relevant information on
the effective use of modern insulins across different regimens. This
information could be further useful to inform and improve the local
guidelines on the management of type 2 diabetes" added Professor Home.

Jesper H0iland, Senior Vice President, Novo Nordisk Region International
Operations A/S said "The A1chieve(R) study is another major initiative
demonstrating our commitment as leaders in the field of diabetes care. Our
vast experience and unmatched presence in the emerging countries has enabled
us to carry out such a unique and large scale research activity of clinical
importance."

The results of this multinational study will be available in 2011.

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
more than 28,500 employees in 81 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
www.novonordisk.com.

Further information:

    References

    1. Siddharth N. Shah, Leon Litwak, Jihad Haddad, Praful N. Chakkarwar and
    Issam Hajjaji. The A1chieve(R) study: a 60,000-person, global,
    prospective, observational study of basal, meal, and biphasic insulin
    analogs in daily clinical practice. Diabetes Research and Clinical
    Practice 88S (2010).

    2. IDF Diabetes Atlas 4th Edition, International Diabetes Federation,
    2009. www.diabetesatlas.org.

Louisa Stylian: Tel: +44(0)20-3047-2258, louisa.stylian at edelman.com; Theo Tasiopoulos, Tel: +41-43-222-4336, TEOT at novonordisk.com