Novo Nordisk A/S Interim Results


BAGSVAERD, Denmark, Aug. 11, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Financial statement for the period 1 January 2005 to 30 June 2005. Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) increased sales by 14% in the first half of 2005 Expectation for operating profit growth increased to around 10% for 2005

- In local currencies sales in the first half of 2005 increased by 15% o Sales of insulin analogues increased by 67% o Sales of NovoSeven(R) increased by 14% o Sales in North America increased by 28%

- Operating profit increased by 14% to DKK 3,853 million. Adjusted for the impact from currencies and changes in the level of non-recurring income, underlying operating profit increased by more than 15%.

- Net profit increased by 25% to DKK 2,916 million and earnings per share (diluted) increased by 28% to DKK 8.78.

- The expectation for operating profit growth is increased from around 5% to around 10% for the full year of 2005.

- The continued consultations with the European regulatory authorities (EMEA) have led Novo Nordisk to withdraw the phase 2-based registration file for NovoSeven(R) in trauma. It is expected that results from a confirmatory clinical study will enable a subsequent, updated European filing.

- Positive opinion has been received from EMEA on NovoMix(R) 50 and NovoMix(R) 70 filings in Europe. NovoLog(R) Mix 50/50 and NovoLog(R) Mix 30/70 have been filed for approval in the US.

- Lars Rebien Soerensen, president & CEO, said: "We are encouraged by the continued market success of our strategic products, in particular the full range of insulin analogues and NovoSeven(R). Moreover, the performance in our North American business has increased our confidence in the future growth potential for Novo Nordisk in the world's largest pharmaceutical market." Financial statement for the first six months of 2005

This interim report has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The accounting policies used in the interim report are consistent with those used in the Annual Report 2004, which includes the expense impact of share-based payment schemes. The interim report has not been audited. Amounts in DKK million, except average number of shares outstanding, earnings per share and full-time employees.


 Interim Results for Novo Nordisk-Tables
                                               
 Income statement          H1 2005 H1 2004 % change H1 2004 to H1 2005

 Sales                      15,541  13,679                         14%
                                                             
 Gross profit               11,246   9,880                         14%
 Gross margin                72.4%   72.2%                    
                                                             
 Sales and distribution      4,406   3,877                         14%
  costs
 Percent of sales            28.4%   28.3%                    
                                                             
 Research and development    2,303   2,023                         14%
  costs
 Percent of sales            14.8%   14.8%                    
                                                             
 Administrative expenses       953     908                          5%
 Percent of sales             6.1%    6.6%                    
                                                              
 Licence fees and other        269     303                       (11%)
  operating income                                                     
                                                             
 Operating profit            3,853   3,375                         14%
 Operating margin            24.8%   24.7%                    
                                                             
 Share of profit in            195   (109)                          -
  associated companies                                                  
 Other net financial            83     216                       (62%)
  income
 Profit before tax           4,131   3,482                         19%
                                                             
 Net profit                  2,916   2,325                         25%
 Net profit margin           18.8%   17.0%                    
                                                             
 Other key numbers                                            
                                                             
 Depreciation, amortisation    834     767                          9%
  and impairment losses                                            
 Capital expenditure         1,458   1,034                         41%
                                                             
 Cash flow from operating    3,448   3,060                         13%
 activities                                                   
 Free cash flow              1,946   1,842                          6%
                                                             
 Total assets               37,731  34,248                         10%
 Equity                     25,620  24,827                          3%
 Equity ratio                67.9%   72.5%                    
                   
 Average number of           332.0   339.8                        (2%)
  shares outstanding
  (million) - diluted     
                    
 Diluted earnings per         8.78    6.84                         28%
  share (in DKK)    
                                                              
 Full-time employees        21,246  19,631                          8%
  at the end of 
  the period                                                   

Sales development by segments

Sales in the first six months of 2005 increased by 15% measured in local currencies and by 14% in Danish kroner. Growth was realised both within diabetes care and biopharmaceuticals -- primarily driven by strategically important products such as the insulin analogues as well as NovoSeven(r). Furthermore, sales of growth hormone therapy products also contributed to growth.


                                 Sales   Growth     Growth   Share of
                               H1 2005       as   in local     growth
                                   DKK reported currencies   in local
                               million                     currencies
 The diabetes care segment
 Insulin analogues                3,140      63%        67%        62%
 Human insulin and                            4%         4%        15%
 insulin-related sales            7,099
 Oral antidiabetic products         767     (4%)       (2%)       (1%)
 Diabetes care - total           11,006      15%        16%        76%

 The biopharmaceuticals segment
 NovoSeven(r)                       2,338      11%        14%        14%
 Growth hormone therapy           1,300      17%        19%        10%
 Other products                     897     (1%)         1%         0%
 Biopharmaceuticals - total       4,535      10%        12%        24%

  Total sales                     15,541      14%        15%       100%

Sales growth was realised in all regions and North America now constitutes 28% of total sales.

Diabetes care

Sales of diabetes care products increased by 16% in local currencies compared to the first six months of 2004 and by 15% in Danish kroner to DKK 11,006 million.

Insulin analogues, human insulin and insulin-related products

Sales of insulin analogues, human insulin and insulin-related products increased by 18% measured in local currencies and by 17% to DKK 10,239 million in Danish kroner. All regions contributed to growth measured in local currencies as well as in Danish kroner.

Novo Nordisk continues to be the global leader in the insulin market with a total market share of 50% and an insulin analogue market share of more than 30%, measured in volume.

Sales of insulin analogues increased by 67% in local currencies and by 63% in Danish kroner to DKK 3,140 million in the first six months of 2005. Sales of insulin analogues contributed with 62% of the overall growth in local currencies and constitute more than 30% of Novo Nordisk's total sales of all insulin and insulin-related products.

North America Sales in North America increased by 45% in local currencies in the first six months of 2005 and by 39% in Danish kroner, reflecting solid penetration of the insulin analogues NovoLog(R) and NovoLog(R) Mix 70/30. In the US market, Novo Nordisk now holds more than 36% of the total insulin market and over 20% of the analogue market, measured by volume. Sales of human insulin products also increased due to increased volumes and higher average prices.

Europe Sales in Europe increased by 8% in local currencies and by 9% in Danish kroner, with growth primarily driven by the portfolio of insulin analogues, including Levemir(R), which has now been introduced in 11 European countries.

Japan & Oceania Sales in Japan & Oceania increased by 13% in local currencies and by 11% in Danish kroner, with growth primarily reflecting sales of NovoRapid(R) and NovoRapid(R) Mix 30, supported by the continued switch from durable to prefilled devices.

International Operations Sales in International Operations increased by 21% in local currencies and by 19% in Danish kroner. Sales were dominated by human insulin but insulin analogues continue to add to overall growth in the region. China was the primary growth driver and contributed more than 15% of total sales in International Operations in the first six months of 2005.

Oral antidiabetic products

Sales of oral antidiabetic products decreased compared to the same period in 2004 by 2% in local currencies and 4% in Danish kroner to DKK 767 million. While the sales development was positive both in Europe and International Operations, the overall decrease in sales compared to the same period last year mainly reflects lower sales to wholesalers in the US market during the first six months of 2005.

Biopharmaceuticals

Sales of biopharmaceutical products increased by 12% in local currencies compared to the first six months of 2004 and by 10% in Danish kroner to DKK 4,535 million.

NovoSeven(R)

Sales of NovoSeven(R) increased by 14% in local currencies compared to the same period last year and by 11% in Danish kroner to DKK 2,338 million, with sales growth primarily driven by North America, but also International Operations and Japan & Oceania contributed to growth. In Europe, sales growth resumed during the second quarter of 2005.

The sales growth of NovoSeven(R) was influenced by several factors during the first six months of 2005. Due to the high penetration within spontaneous bleeds in congenital inhibitor patients, the predominant part of the growth within the inhibitor segment has been generated by treatment of acquired haemophilia patients and usage of NovoSeven(R) in connection with elective surgery. Treatment of spontaneous bleeds for congenital inhibitor patients remains the largest area of use. In addition, sales are perceived to have been positively affected by increased investigational use of NovoSeven(R).

Growth hormone therapy (Norditropin(R) and Norditropin(R) SimpleXx(R))

Sales of growth hormone therapy products increased by 19% in local currencies and by 17% in Danish kroner to DKK 1,300 million. All regions contributed to the sales increase compared to the same period last year, with North America and Europe as the main growth drivers. Sales have been positively impacted by the NordiFlex(R) prefilled delivery device.

Other products

Sales of other products within biopharmaceuticals, which predominantly consist of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) related products, increased by 1% in local currencies and decreased by 1% in Danish kroner to DKK 897 million. While total sales of HRT products continue to be negatively impacted by challenging market conditions, sales in the US increased during the first six months due to higher market share and higher average prices.

Costs, licence fees and other operating income

The cost of goods sold increased by 13% to DKK 4,295 million, leaving the gross margin at 72.4%, compared to 72.2% in the first six months of 2004. The gains from an improved product mix and increased productivity were partially offset by an adverse currency impact, leaving the underlying gross margin improvement at 0.4 percentage point. The gross margin was negatively impacted by a write-down on inventories of animal insulin crystals, which has been included in the cost of goods sold.

Total non-production-related costs increased by 13% to DKK 7,662 million. The increase in non-production-related costs reflects especially costs related to sales and distribution, which increased in line with sales. This reflects the increase in the US diabetes care sales force implemented during the second quarter of 2004 as well as costs related to the launch of Levemir(R) in the European market.

Licence fees and other operating income in the first six months of 2005 were DKK 269 million, compared to DKK 303 million in the same period last year. In the second quarter of 2005 a non-recurring income of around DKK 100 million was realised from a sale-and-leaseback transaction involving certain office buildings in Denmark.

Net financials

Net financials showed an income of DKK 278 million in the first six months of 2005 compared to an income of DKK 107 million in the same period in 2004. A non-recurring gain of around DKK 250 million was recorded in the first quarter of 2005 from the sale of shares in Ferrosan A/S.

The foreign exchange gains were DKK 135 million compared to a gain of DKK 195 million in the same period last year. The lower level of foreign exchange gains mainly reflects lower income from foreign exchange hedging activities, which include forward contracts and foreign exchange options. The effect of these hedging activities has been negatively impacted by the higher level of the US dollar versus the Danish krone in the first six months of 2005 compared to the level prevailing in 2004. At the end of June 2005, an unrealised loss of DKK 386 million has, in accordance with IFRS, been deferred for profit and loss recognition in the period when hedged cash flows occur.

Outlook 2005

Reflecting the continued appreciation of the US dollar and related currencies, Novo Nordisk now expects to report Danish kroner sales growth in 2005 of 12-15%, and a similar level of growth measured in local currencies.

The expectation for reported operating profit growth is increased from around 5% to around 10%. This reflects the improved exchange rate environment as well as the non-recurring income from the sale-and-leaseback transaction and also the expected costs related to a planned employee share offering during the fourth quarter of 2005 - as further described below under 'Employee share programme'. Excluding the impact from currency movements and non-recurring items, underlying operating profit is still expected to grow by around 15%.

For 2005, Novo Nordisk now expects a net financial income of DKK 200 million. This reflects a non-recurring accounting gain of approximately DKK 200 million related to ZymoGenetics' public offering of new shares in August 2005, partly offset by a higher level of expected losses on foreign exchange hedging contracts, mainly as a consequence of the higher level of the US dollar versus the Danish krone.

Novo Nordisk now expects the tax rate for 2005 to be slightly below 29% as a consequence of the reduction in the Danish corporate income tax rate from 30% to 28%, effective for the income year 2005, which was formally approved by the Danish parliament (Folketinget) in June 2005.

As previously communicated, the expected tax rate for 2005 is reduced by close to two percentage points by two factors of a non-recurring nature, each of which account for close to one percentage-point reduction in the tax rate:

- the tax-exempt status of the capital gain on the sale of shares in Ferrosan A/S; and

- the re-evaluation of the company's deferred tax liabilities as a consequence of the reduction of the Danish corporate income tax rate.

Furthermore, the tax-exempt status of the accounting gain related to ZymoGenetics' public offering of new shares will reduce the expected tax rate for 2005 by around half a percentage point on a non-recurring basis.

Novo Nordisk still expects capital expenditure of close to DKK 4 billion in 2005. Depreciations, amortisation and impairment losses are still expected to be around DKK 1.9 billion, whereas free cash flow is now expected to be around DKK 3 billion.

All of the above expectations are provided that currency exchange rates remain at the current level for the rest of 2005.

Novo Nordisk has hedged expected net cash flows in relation to US dollars, Japanese yen and British pounds for 10, 9 and 9 months, respectively. In accordance with IFRS, the financial impact from foreign exchange hedging contracts will be included in 'Net financials' as the underlying future operational cash flow materialises.

Research and development update

Diabetes care

As previously communicated, Levemir(R) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2005, and Novo Nordisk is thereby the only company with a complete range of insulin analogues approved in the US, encompassing rapid-acting NovoLog(R), premixed NovoLog(R) Mix 70/30 and now also the long-acting analogue Levemir(R). Novo Nordisk expects to launch Levemir(R) in the US market within 12 months following the approval.

In June 2005, Novo Nordisk received a positive opinion from the European regulatory authorities' Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) for the premixed analogue insulin products NovoMix(R) 50 and NovoMix(R) 70. Following the positive opinion from CHMP, Novo Nordisk expects to receive marketing authorisation from the European Commission for NovoMix(R) 50 and NovoMix(R) 70 in the second half of 2005.

In June 2005, Novo Nordisk filed an application with the FDA for marketing approval of NovoLog(R) Mix 50/50 and NovoLog(R) Mix 30/70 (the US trade names for NovoMix(R) 50 and NovoMix(R) 70).

Biopharmaceuticals

As previously communicated, Novo Nordisk filed an application with EMEA (The European Medicines Agency) in January 2005 for marketing approval for the use of NovoSeven(R) in blunt trauma. The filing was based on results obtained from a phase 2 clinical study. As a consequence of subsequent feedback from EMEA, Novo Nordisk has, however, decided to voluntarily withdraw the registration file.

To support an updated European filing at a later stage, Novo Nordisk has, as previously announced, initiated a confirmatory phase 3 study in the EU and other countries outside the US. This study is now expected to encompass around 1,000 patients.

In the U.S., the current FDA-guided phase 3 study design for the use of NovoSeven(R) in trauma is being evaluated in terms of implied patient benefits versus potential number of patients in the study and related timelines. An update on the US clinical strategy is expected to be provided in connection with the release of financial results for the first nine months of 2005.

Novo Nordisk still expects to file an application in Europe for marketing approval for the use of NovoSeven(R) in connection with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). The filing, which will be based on clinical data from phase 2 studies, is now expected to take place during the fourth quarter of 2005. The filing may, as previously announced, be supported by additional safety data from the ongoing global confirmatory phase 3 study.

This phase 3 study has been initiated both in Europe and the U.S. It is now expected to encompass around 675 patients in clinical centres located in the U.S., Europe, South America and Asia. The clinical results from the study will be pivotal to the future filing with the FDA for U.S. marketing approval for the use of NovoSeven(R) in connection with ICH.

Within HRT Novo Nordisk has completed a successful phase 3 study and, based on this, expects to file in the fourth quarter of 2005 for marketing approval with EMEA and the FDA of an ultra-low dose version of Activelle(R) (Activella(R) in the U.S.), Novo Nordisk's continuous-combined HRT product. This is expected to support the move towards even lower-dose versions of HRT products.

Equity Total

equity was DKK 25,620 million at the end of the first six months of 2005, equal to 67.9% of total assets, compared to 70.8% at the end of 2004. Please refer to appendix 5 for further elaboration of changes in equity during 2005.

Treasury shares and share repurchase programme

As per 10 August 2005, Novo Nordisk A/S and its wholly-owned affiliates owned 28,268,127 of its own B shares, corresponding to 7.97% of the total share capital.

In 2005, Novo Nordisk has so far repurchased 5.9 million B shares at a cash value of DKK 1.8 billion, and the company still expects to repurchase additional B shares during the remaining part of 2005 equivalent to a cash value of DKK 1.2 billion.

Employee share programme

To stimulate the ownership interest in the company and to give an incentive to the employees, the Board of Directors has approved a global offering of shares to the employees in the autumn of 2005. The offering is expected to include approximately 1 million B shares (equivalent to around 0.3% of the total share capital), which will be sold from the company's holding of treasury shares at a price of DKK 150 per share. The shares in the programme will generally have a minimum restricted period of five years for employees in Denmark and three years for employees outside Denmark.

The accounting impact of the offering will be calculated based on the average market price in the offering period. The estimated pre-tax cost of the offering will be in the range of DKK 150-200 million.

Sustainability issues update

Clinical trials information

During the second half of 2004 there was an increasing demand from medical journals, industry associations and general media for investigators and pharmaceutical companies to ensure public access to clinical trial data. This includes information on study protocols for clinical trials to be initiated or presently ongoing and, furthermore, providing public access to results from all trials that have been executed for products marketed in at least one country.

Novo Nordisk has decided to fulfil these requirements by submitting the data to two external databases; www.clinicaltrials.gov and www.clinicalstudyresults.org.

Novo Nordisk posted the first clinical trial results in April 2005 and expects to achieve full compliance by 1 October 2005. All hypothesis testing clinical trials to be initiated after 1 July 2005 are being registered prior to patient enrolment, and registration of currently ongoing trials will be fully implemented by the deadline set by the ICMJE (International Committee of Medical Journal Editors) of 13 September 2005.

Conference call details At 14.00 CET today, corresponding to 8.00 a.m. New York time, a conference call will be held. Investors will be able to listen in via a link on novonordisk.com, which can be found under 'Investors -- Conference calls'. Presentation material for the conference call will be made available approximately one hour before on the same page.

Forward-looking statement

The above sections contain forward-looking statements as the term is defined in the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations or forecasts of events such as new product introductions, product approvals and financial performance.

Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions. This may cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Factors that may affect future results include interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations, delay or failure of development projects, production problems, unexpected contract breaches or terminations, government-mandated or market-driven price decreases for Novo Nordisk's products, introduction of competing products, Novo Nordisk's ability to successfully market both new and existing products, exposure to product liability and other lawsuits, changes in reimbursement rules and governmental laws and related interpretation thereof, and unexpected growth in costs and expenses.

Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by Novo Nordisk with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) including the company's Form 20-F, which was filed on 21 February 2005. Please also refer to the section 'Risk Management' in the Annual Report 2004. Novo Nordisk is under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements or to conform such statements to actual results, unless required by law.

Management statement

Today, the Board of Directors and Executive Management reviewed and approved the interim report and accounts of Novo Nordisk A/S for the first six months of 2005.

The interim report and accounts have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and the additional Danish disclosure requirements applying to listed companies' interim reports and accounts. The interim report has not been audited. In our opinion the accounting policies used are appropriate and the overall presentation of the interim report and accounts is adequate. Furthermore, in our opinion the interim report and accounts give a true and fair view of the Group's assets, liabilities, financial position and of the results of the operations and consolidated cash flows for the period under review.



 Bagsvaerd 11 August 2005

 Executive Management:

 Lars Rebien Sorensen    Jesper Brandgaard       Lars Almblom Jorgensen 
 President and CEO       CFO                

 Lise Kingo              Kare Schultz            Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen

 Board of Directors:
 Mads Ovlise             Sten Scheibye           Goran A Ando
 Chairman                Vice chairman

 Kurt Briner             Henrik Gurtler          Johnny Henriksen

 Niels Jacobsen          Anne Marie Kverneland   Kurt Anker Nielsen

 Stig Strobak            Jorgen Wedel

 Appendix 1:
 Quarterly numbers in DKK

 (Amounts in DKK million, except number of employees, earnings per 
  share and number of shares outstanding.)
                                                                     %
                                                                 change
                   2005            2004                              Q2
                                                                 2004 -
                       Q2     Q1       Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1       Q2
                                                                  2005
 Sales               8,283  7,258    7,944  7,408  7,164  6,515      16%

 Gross profit        6,073  5,173    5,783  5,318  5,219  4,661      16%
 Gross margin        73.3%  71.3%    72.8%  71.8%  72.9%  71.5%

 Sales and           2,267  2,139    2,364  2,039  1,991  1,886      14%
 distribution costs
 Percent of sales    27.4%  29.5%    29.8%  27.5%  27.8%  28.9%
 Research and        1,197  1,106    1,243  1,086    983  1,040      22%
 development costs
 Percent of sales    14.5%  15.2%    15.6%  14.7%  13.7%  16.0%
 Administrative        470    483      534    502    431    477       9%
 expenses
 Percent of sales     5.7%   6.7%     6.7%   6.8%   6.0%   7.3%
 Licence fees and
 other operating       202     67      213     59     71    232     185%
 income (net)

 Operating profit    2,341  1,512    1,855  1,750  1,885  1,490      24%
 Operating margin    28.3%  20.8%    23.4%  23.6%  26.3%  22.9%

 Share of
 profit/(loss) in     (43)    238     (20)     12   (40)   (69)       8%
 associated
 companies
 Financial income      238    114      491    125    104    178     129%
 Financial expenses    193     76      186     52     44     22     339%

 Profit before       2,343  1,788    2,140  1,835  1,905  1,577      23%
 taxation

 Net profit          1,684  1,232    1,462  1,226  1,272  1,053      32%

 Depreciation,
 amortisation and      422    412      549    576    387    380       9%
 impairment losses
 Capital               735    723    1,092    873    642    392      14%
 expenditure
 Cash flow from
 operating           2,105  1,343    2,103  2,426  1,710  1,350      23%
 activities
 Free cash flow      1,332    614      903  1,533    956    886      39%

 Equity             25,620 25,729   26,504 25,557 24,827 23,942       3%
 Total assets       37,731 36,497   37,433 35,587 34,248 33,838      10%
 Equity ratio        67.9%  70.5%    70.8%  71.8%  72.5%  70.8%

 Full-time
 employees at the   21,246 20,942   20,285 20,001 19,631 19,179       8%
 end of the period

 Diluted earnings
 per share (in        5.09   3.70     4.37   3.63   3.74   3.10      36%
 DKK)*
 Average number of shares
 outstanding (million)*
 - used for diluted  330.8  333.2    334.7  338.2  339.8  339.8      -3%
 earnings per share

 Sales by business
 segments:
    Insulin          1,692  1,448    1,332  1,252  1,037    886      63%
 analogues
    Human insulin
 and                 3,753  3,346    3,944  3,593  3,640  3,206       3%
 insulin-related
 sales
    Oral
 antidiabetic          391    376      403    445    379    416       3%
 products (OAD)
    Diabetes care    5,836  5,170    5,679  5,290  5,056  4,508      15%
 total

   NovoSeven(r)       1,248  1,090    1,170  1,086  1,084  1,019      15%
     Growth hormone     704    596      651    559    557    550      26%
 therapy
   Hormone
 replacement           410    328      364    396    389    339       5%
 therapy
    Other products      85     74       80     77     78     99       9%

 Biopharmaceuticals  2,447  2,088    2,265  2,118  2,108  2,007      16%
 total

 Sales by geographic segments:
    Europe           3,405  3,006    3,364  3,057  3,106  2,884      10%
    North America    2,282  2,092    1,816  2,098  1,837  1,727      24%
    International    1,395  1,128    1,559  1,171  1,134    980      23%
 Operations
    Japan & Oceania  1,201  1,032    1,205  1,082  1,087    924      10%

 Segment operating
 profit:
    Diabetes care    1,235    750    1,047    746    936    675      32%
                     1,106    762      808  1,004    949    815      17%
 Biopharmaceuticals

  (*) For Q2 2005 diluted earnings per share/ADR of a nominal value
      of DKK 2, which include options on Novo Nordisk's treasury
      shares with an exercise price below current market value, have 
      been based on an average number of shares of 330,804,579.

 Appendix 2:

 Quarterly numbers in EUR

 (Amounts in EUR million, except number of employees, earnings 
  per share and number of shares outstanding.)

 Key figures are translated into EUR as supplementary information -- the
 translation is based on average exchange rate for income statement 
  and exchange rate at the balance sheet date for balance sheet items.
                                                                    %
                                                               change
                     2005            2004                          Q2
                                                               2004 -
                       Q2     Q1       Q4     Q3     Q2     Q1     Q2
                                                                 2005

 Sales               1,113    975    1,068    997    962    875    16%

 Gross profit          816    695      778    715    701    626    16%
 Gross margin        73.3%  71.3%    72.8%  71.8%  72.9%  71.5%

 Sales and             305    287      318    274    268    253    14%
 distribution costs
 Percent of sales    27.4%  29.5%    29.8%  27.5%  27.8%  28.9%
 Research and          160    149      167    146    132    140    22%
 development costs
 Percent of sales    14.5%  15.2%    15.6%  14.7%  13.7%  16.0%
 Administrative         63     65       72     67     58     64     9%
 expenses
 Percent of sales     5.7%   6.7%     6.7%   6.8%   6.0%   7.3%
 Licence fees and
 other operating        27      9       28      8     10     31   185%
 income (net)

 Operating profit      315    203      249    236    253    200    24%
 Operating margin    28.3%  20.8%    23.4%  23.6%  26.3%  22.9%

 Share of profit in
 associated R&D        (6)     32      (1)      -    (5)    (9)     8%
 companies
 Financial income       32     15       65     17     14     24   129%
 Financial expenses     26     10       25      7      6      3   339%

 Profit before         315    240      288    246    256    212    23%
 taxation

 Net profit            226    166      197    165    171    141    32%

 Depreciation,
 amortisation and       57     55       74     77     52     51     9%
 impairment losses
 Capital                99     97      147    117     86     53    14%
 expenditure
 Cash flow from
 operating             283    180      283    326    230    181    23%
 activities
 Free cash flow        179     82      121    207    128    119    39%

 Equity              3,438  3,454    3,563  3,434  3,340  3,216     3%
 Total assets        5,064  4,899    5,033  4,782  4,608  4,545    10%
 Equity ratio        67.9%  70.5%    70.8%  71.8%  72.5%  70.8%

 Full-time
 employees at the   21,246 20,942   20,285 20,001 19,631 19,179     8%
 end of the period

 Diluted earnings
 per share (in        0.68   0.50     0.58   0.49   0.50   0.42    36%
 EUR)*
 Average number of shares
 outstanding (million)*
 - used for diluted  330.8  333.2    334.7  338.2  339.8  339.8    -3%
 earnings per share

 Sales by business
 segments:
    Insulin            227    195      179    169    139    119    63%
 analogues
    Human insulin
 and                   504    450      531    483    489    430     3%
 insulin-related
 sales
    Oral
 antidiabetic           52     51       54     60     51     56     3%
 products (OAD)
    Diabetes care      783    696      764    712    679    605    15%
 total

    NovoSeven(r)         168    146      157    147    145    137    15%
   Growth hormone      95     80       87     75     75     74    26%
 therapy
   Hormone
 replacement            55     44       49     53     52     46     5%
 therapy
    Other products      12      9       11     10     11     13     9%

 Biopharmaceuticals    330    279      304    285    283    270    16%
 total

 Sales by
 geographic
 segments:
    Europe             457    404      452    411    418    387    10%
    North America      307    281      244    282    247    232    24%
    International      187    152      210    157    152    132    23%
 Operations
    Japan & Oceania    162    138      162    147    145    124    10%

 Segment operating
 profit:
    Diabetes care      166    101      141    101    125     91    32%
                       149    102      108    135    128    109    17%
 Biopharmaceuticals

 (*) For Q2 2005 diluted earnings per share/ADR of a nominal value of
     DKK 2, which include options on Novo Nordisk's treasury
     shares with an exercise price below current market value, have
     been based on an average number of shares of 330,804,579.

 Appendix 3:

 Income statement

                                  H1       H1          Q2      Q2
 DKK million                     2005     2004        2005    2004

 Sales                         15,541   13,679       8,283   7,164
 Cost of goods sold             4,295    3,799       2,210   1,945
 Gross profit                  11,246    9,880       6,073   5,219

 Sales and distribution
 costs                          4,406    3,877       2,267   1,991
 Research and development
 costs                          2,303    2,023       1,197     983
 Administrative expenses          953      908         470     431
 Licence fees and other
 operating income (net)           269      303         202      71
 Operating profit               3,853    3,375       2,341   1,885

 Share of profit/(loss) in
 associated companies             195    (109)        (43)    (40)
 Financial income                 352      282         238     104
 Financial expenses               269       66         193      44
 Profit before taxation         4,131    3,482       2,343   1,905

 Income taxes (*)                1,215    1,157         659     633
 NET PROFIT                     2,916    2,325       1,684   1,272


 Basic earnings per share 
 (DKK)                           8.81     6.87        5.11    3.76
 Diluted earnings per share
 diluted (DKK)                   8.78     6.84        5.09    3.74

 Segment sales:
    Diabetes care              11,006    9,564       5,836   5,056
    Biopharmaceuticals          4,535    4,115       2,447   2,108

 Segment operating profit:
    Diabetes care               1,985    1,611       1,235     936
     Operating margin           18.0%    16.8%       21.2%   18.5%

    Biopharmaceuticals          1,868    1,764       1,106     949
     Operating margin           41.2%    42.9%       45.2%   45.0%

 (*)  The effective tax rate for the first half of 2005 of 29.4% is
      based on the expected effective tax rate for the full year of 2005
      including the effect of the reduction in the Danish corporate
      income tax and including the tax-exempt status of the capital gain 
      on the sale of shares in Ferrosan A/S, but excluding the effect of
      the tax-exempt status of the accounting gain related to 
      ZymoGenetics' public offering of new shares, which was concluded in
      August 2005.

 Appendix 4:
 Balance sheet
 
 DKK million                     30 Jun 2005       31 Dec 2004
 
 ASSETS
 Intangible assets                       411               314
 Property, plant and equipment        18,799            17,559
 Investments in associated
 companies                               770               883
 Deferred tax assets                     810               769
 Other financial assets                  189               159
 TOTAL LONG-TERM ASSETS               20,979            19,684

 Inventories                           7,670             7,163
 Trade receivables                     4,681             4,062
 Tax receivables                          22               710
 Other receivables                     1,404             1,855
 Marketable securities                   524               526
 Cash at bank and in hand              2,451             3,433
 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS                 16,752            17,749

 TOTAL ASSETS                         37,731            37,433

 EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

 Share capital                           709               709
 Treasury shares                        (56)              (45)
 Share premium account                     -             2,565
 Retained earnings                    25,099            22,671
 Other comprehensive income            (132)               604
 TOTAL EQUITY                         25,620            26,504 

 Long-term debt                        1,272             1,188
 Deferred tax liabilities              1,328             1,853
 Provision for pensions                  300               250
 Other provisions                        267               358
 Total long-term liabilities           3,167             3,649

 Short-term debt                         600               507
 Trade payables                        1,191             1,061
 Tax payables                            709               631
 Other liabilities                     4,678             3,721
 Other provisions                      1,766             1,360
 Total current liabilities             8,944             7,280 

 TOTAL LIABILITIES                    12,111            10,929

 TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES         37,731            37,433


 Appendix 5:

 Statement of changes in equity
                                                    Other
                                                  compre-
                                                  hensive
                                                   income
                                                      De-
                                                   ferred
                                              Ex-   gain/
                                           change    loss Other
             Share   Trea-  Share             rate on cash   ad-
             capi-   sury premium Retained adjust-    flow just-
 DKK million   tal shares account earnings   ments  hedges ments   Total
                                                                   H1 2005                                           
 Balance at the                                               
 beginning of                                      
 the year      709   (45)   2,565   22,671    (40)     461   183  26,504
 Exchange                                          
 rate                                              
 adjustment                                        
 of                                                
 investments                                       
 in                                                
 subsidiaries                                   98                    98
 Deferred                                          
 (gain)/loss                                       
 on cash flow                                      
 hedges at                                         
 the                                               
 beginning of                                      
 the year                                          
 recognised                                        
 in the                                            
 Income                                            
 statement                                         
 for the                                           
 period                                              (461)         (461)
 Deferred                                          
 gain/(loss)                                       
 on cash flow                                      
 hedges at                                         
 the end of                                        
 the period                                          (386)         (386)
 Other                                             
 adjustments                            96                    13     109
 Net income                                        
 recognised                                        
 directly in                                       
 equity          -      -       -       96      98   (847)    13   (640)
 Net profit                                        
 for the
 period                              2,916                         2,916
 Total income
 for the
 period          -      -       -    3,012      98   (847)    13   2,276
 Cost of
 share-based
 payment                                40                            40
 Purchase of
 treasury
 shares              (11)          (1,636)                       (1,647)
 Sale of
 treasury
 shares                 -               41                            41
 Transfer of
 share
 premium
 account to
 retained
 earnings (*)              (2,565)    2,565                             -
 Dividends                         (1,594)                       (1,594)
 Balance at
 the end of
 the period    709   (56)       -   25,099      58   (386)   196  25,620

  (*) In accordance with changes in the Danish Companies Act the share
      premium account is transferred to retained earnings.

 H1 2004

 Balance at
 the
 beginning of
 the year      709   (33)   2,565   20,925    (79)     513   176  24,776
 Exchange
 rate
 adjustment
 of
 investments
 in
 subsidiaries                                 (18)                  (18)
 Deferred
 (gain)/loss
 on cash flow
 hedges at
 the
 beginning of
 the year
 recognised
 in the
 Income
 statement
 for the
 period                                              (513)         (513)
 Deferred
 gain/(loss)
 on cash flow
 hedges at
 the end of
 the period                                             77            77
 Other
 adjustments                                                 (3)     (3)
  Net income
 recognised
 directly in
 equity          -      -       -        -    (18)   (436)   (3)   (457)
 Net profit
 for the
 period                              2,325                         2,325
 Total income
 for the
 period          -      -       -    2,325    (18)   (436)   (3)   1,868
 Cost of
 share-based
 payment                               52                             52
 Purchase of
 treasury   
 shares                (3)           (425)                         (428)
 Sale of
 treasury
 shares                 -               47                            47
 Dividends                         (1,488)                       (1,488)
 Balance at
 the end of
 the period    709    (36)  2,565   21,436    (97)      77   173  24,827


 Appendix 6:

 Condensed cash flow statement

 DKK million                                     H1 2005       H1 2004

 Net profit                                        2,916         2,325
 Net reversals with no effect on cash flow         2,145         2,540
 Income taxes paid and net interest
 received                                          (926)       (1,311)
 Cash flow before change in working
 capital                                           4,135         3,554 

 Net change in working capital                     (687)         (494)
 Cash flow from operating activities               3,448         3,060 

 Net investments in intangible assets and
 long-term financial assets                         (44)         (184)
 Capital expenditure for property, plant
 and equipment                                   (1,458)       (1,034)
 Net change in marketable securities 
 (Greater than 3 months)                              -         1,304 
 Total cash flow from investing activities       (1,502)           86 

 Cash flow from financing activities             (3,219)       (2,202)

 NET CASH FLOW                                   (1,273)           944

 Unrealised gain/(loss) on exchange rates
 in cash and cash equivalents                        161          (16)
 Net change in cash and cash equivalents         (1,112)           928

 Cash and cash equivalents at the
 beginning of the year                             2,963           841
 Cash and cash equivalents at the end of
 the period                                        1,851         1,769

 Bonds with original term to maturity
 exceeding three months                              507           506
 Undrawn committed credit facilities               6,706         6,689
 FINANCIAL RESOURCES AT THE END OF THE
 PERIOD                                            9,064         8,964

 FREE CASH FLOW*                                   1,946         1,842

 (*) Cash flow from operating activities + Cash flow from investing
     activities -- Net change in marketable securities (greater than 3
     months)

Further information on Novo Nordisk is available on the company's internet homepage at the address: novonordisk.com



            

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