Transaction in Own Shares

BAGSVÆRD, DENMARK--(Marketwire - August 7, 2009) - Novo Nordisk A/S purchases B shares worth DKK 1.1 billion from Novo A/S as part of the ongoing share repurchase programme

Novo Nordisk A/S has today entered into an agreement to purchase 3,570,000 B shares (nominal DKK 1) from Novo A/S on 10 August 2009 as part of the ongoing DKK 19.0 billion share repurchase programme for 2006-2009. The transaction price is set to DKK 311.125 per share and has been calculated as the average market price from 6 August to 7 August in the open trading window following the announcement of Novo Nordisk's financial results for the first six months of 2009.

Novo A/S will thereby readjust its ownership of Novo Nordisk A/S to 25.5%, equal to the level of ownership prior to the cancellation of treasury shares, which took place in June 2009.

The total shareholding of Novo A/S in Novo Nordisk A/S prior to the sale of B shares is 107,487,200 A shares (nominal DKK 1) and 54,182,800 B shares (nominal DKK 1), corresponding to 26.1% of the share capital and 71.1% of votes. The transaction will reduce Novo A/S' ownership of Novo Nordisk A/S to 25.5% of capital and 70.9% of votes.

Henrik Gürtler, CEO of Novo A/S, said: "Following the recent cancellation of treasury shares, Novo A/S will realign its shareholding in Novo Nordisk A/S to the level of just over 25%, which has been our target since the demerger of Novozymes A/S in 2000. We remain a committed long-term majority shareholder of Novo Nordisk."

As of 7 August 2009, Novo Nordisk A/S has repurchased B shares amounting to DKK 4.1 billion in 2009 when taking this transaction with Novo A/S into account. Novo Nordisk A/S and its wholly-owned affiliates thereby owns 24,952,391 of its own B shares of DKK 1, corresponding to a total nominal value of DKK 24,952,391 or 4.0% of the total share capital. 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 27,900 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 novonordisk.com.

Novo A/S, the holding company in the Novo Group, was established prior to the demerger of Novo Nordisk in 2000. Novo A/S is a private limited liability company, fully owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Besides being the majority shareholder in Novozymes A/S and Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo A/S provides venture capital to development stage companies with pioneering scientific ideas within life science, and assists the Novo Group companies in implementing and evaluating the commitments set out in the 'Charter for Companies in the Novo Group'. For more information, visit novo.dk.

Further information on Novo Nordisk A/S please contact:

Media: Investors:

Outside North America: Outside North America: Elin K Hansen Mads Veggerby Lausten Tel: (+45) 4442 3450 Tel: (+45) 4443 7919 ekh@novonordisk.com mlau@novonordisk.com

Kasper Roseeuw Poulsen Tel: (+45) 4442 4471 krop@novonordisk.com

In North America: In North America: Sean Clements Hans Rommer Tel: (+1) 609 514 8316 Tel: (+1) 609 919 7937 secl@novonordisk.com hrmm@novonordisk.com

Further information on Novo A/S please contact:

Media:

Henrik Gürtler, CEO Tel: (+45) 4442 2189

Thorkil Kastberg Christensen, CFO Tel: (+45) 4442 3197

Company Announcement no 48 / 2009

This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Copyright © Hugin AS 2009. All rights reserved.