Summary of the Group
First nine months (unaudited)
	1997		1996		Change
	DKK million	USD*) million	DKK million	USD*) million	%
Net turnover	12,347	1,832	10,725	1,591	15
Operating income	2,212	328	1,767	262	25
Net financials	38	6	126	19	(70)
Income before tax	2,250	334	1,893	281	19
Tax	677	100	549	81	23
Net income	1,573	234	1,344	200	17
Number of employees at the end of period	13,916		13,401		4
Of which in Denmark	8,885		8,795		1
Earnings per share of DKK 10	20.97	3.11	17.91	2.66	17
Earnings per ADS (DKK)	10.49	1.56	8.96	1.33	17
Average number of shares outstanding (million)	75.0		75.0		-
*) Translated for convenience at the 30 September 1997 exchange rate of USD 1.00 = DKK 6.7395. (Amounts in millions, except earnings per share / ADS, number of shares outstanding and number of employees) As from 1 January 1997 the Group has changed its accounting policies concerning listed securities classified as current assets, in future to be stated at market value (previously, such marketable securities were stated at the lower of market value or amortised cost). This method is in line with the development in international accounting principles and in harmony with US GAAP - US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The comparative figures for previous years have not been restated as the effect of the change is considered immaterial.

Financial years
	1996	1995	1994	1993
	DKK million	DKK million	DKK million	DKK million
Net turnover	14,873	13,723	13,524	12,163
Operating income	2,386	2,078	2,050	1,938
Net financials	135	78	(118)	(72)
Income before tax	2,521	2,156	1,932	1,866
Tax	725	593	500	440
Net income	1,799	1,563	1,432	1,426
Number of employees at the end of period	13,395	12,997	12,847	11,648
Of which in Denmark	8,746	8,662	9,060	8,286
Earnings per share of DKK 10	23.98	20.83	19.09	19.01
Earnings per ADS (DKK)
Average number of shares outstanding (million)	75.0	75.0	75.0	75.0

This quarterly statement is automatically forwarded to registered shareholders and is available to the public upon request to the registered office of the company in Denmark. For further financial information please contact: Outside of North America: Poul P Lykkesfeldt Novo Nordisk A/S Novo Allé 2880 Bagsværd, Denmark Tel: (+45) 4442 6468 Fax: (+45) 4444 2314 In North America: Peter Bækgaard Novo Nordisk of North America, Inc 405 Lexington Avenue, Suite 6400 New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: (+1) 212 867 0123 Fax: (+1) 212 867 0298