Our business is to discover and market products which satisfy real needs - improving the way people live and work.

We find better ways to fight the burdens of disease and to providesustainable biological solutions to industrial problems.

We shall be the best in our businesses and a challenging place to work.

We shall all over the world conduct our business as socially and environmentally responsible neighbours, and contribute to the enrichment of our communities.

Novo Nordisk is an international biotechnological and pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Denmark. We have production facilities in eight countries and affiliates and offices in 61 countries, and at the end of 1998 14,857 people were employed. Our business is divided into two units - Health Care and Enzyme Business.

Our Health Care unit accounts for around three quarters of Novo Nordisk's business. Health Care develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that provide significant benefits to patients, the medical profession and society. Novo Nordisk is the world leader in Diabetes Care and holds a strong position within the areas of Women's Health Care and Growth Disorders.

Our Enzyme Business develops, manufactures and markets industrial enzymes that provide biological solutions to industrial problems. Novo Nordisk is the world leader in industrial enzymes, and we have customers in a variety of industries, the largest being the detergent, starch and textile industries.

Ownership
The B shares of Novo Nordisk A/S are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen, London and Zürich. The company's ADS (American Depository Shares) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. All A shares of Novo Nordisk A/S are held by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, a private foundation which grants financial aid to scientific, humanitarian and social objectives. With a shareholding of 25% of the total share capital, the Novo Nordisk Foundation controls 68% of the total votes.