Novo Nordisk concentrates its research in three main areas: diabetes, hemostasis and growth hormones. Novo Nordisk is the world market leader in the insulin and modern insulin spaces with a worldwide market share of around 50%. Promising results of Novo’s long-acting insulin, Degludec, and mixed insulin Degludec Plus, were presented in 2010. Further updates will follow in 2011, with potential launches in 2012/13. These two products are important to secure Novo’s long-term growth in the modern insulin space and to take a bigger market share in the long acting insulin market, in which the best-selling diabetes drug, Lantus from Sanofi, is the market leader. In 2010, Victoza, a once-daily GLP-1 analogue, was approved in the US and Japan and initial sales figures and market expansion are very promising. Competitor setbacks helped to further strengthen Novo’s leading position in the GLP-1 and broader diabetes fields. Further clarification on Novo’s strategy in the long-acting GLP-1 market is expected in 2011.

In the hemostasis field, Novo reported successful Phase III results for their factor XIII product for the treatment of congenital FXIII deficiency. Additionally, we expect further studies to be started with a long-acting FIX product, which could improve the treatment of hemophilia B patients significantly. Other important products at Novo Nordisk are NovoSeven (recombinant coagulation factor VII) for the treatment of hemophilic conditions and hGH for the treatment of human growth hormone deficiency. New longer acting formulations are in development for both products.

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