Novo Nordisk: Director/PDMR Shareholding

Trading in Novo Nordisk shares by board members, executives and associated persons as reported to Novo Nordisk on 18 October 2005


BAGSVAERD, Denmark, Oct. 19, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- In accordance with Section 28a of the Danish Securities Trading Act, Novo Nordisk is required on a daily basis to publish trading in Novo Nordisk shares by the company's board members, executives and their associated persons as reported by those persons to Novo Nordisk.

Please find below a statement of such trading in shares issued by Novo Nordisk:



 Name                     Lars Rebien Sorensen 
                          Jesper Brandgaard
                          Lars Almblom Jorgensen
                          Lise Kingo
                          Kare Schultz
                          Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen

 Reason for reporting     Members of Executive Management

 Financial instrument
   and ID code            Novo Nordisk B shares
                          DK 001028081

 Type of transaction      Purchase of employee shares according
                          to the global employee share programme.

                          Reference is made to Stock Exchange
                          Announcement no 20 dated
                          11 August 2005.

 Date of transaction      17 October 2005

 Place of transaction     Copenhagen Stock Exchange

 Volume of transaction    60 shares per member of the
                          Board of Directors

 Total value of
   transaction            DKK 9,000 per member of the Board
                          of Director

 Name                     Johnny Henriksen
                          Anne Marie Kverneland
                          Stig Strobaek

 Reason for reporting     Members of the Board of Directors

 Financial instrument
    and ID code           Novo Nordisk B shares
                          DK 001028081

 Type of transaction      Purchase of employee shares according
                          to the global employee share programme.

                          Reference is made to Stock Exchange
                          Announcement no 20 dated
                          11 August 2005.

 Date of transaction      17 October 2005

 Place of transaction     Copenhagen Stock Exchange

 Volume of transaction    60 shares per member of the
                          Board of Directors

 Total value of
   transaction            DKK 9,000 per member of the Board
                          of Director

Definitions and background information:

Publication Publication shall take place the day after Novo Nordisk receives sufficient information on the trading. Publication is only required when the total amount of transactions of a specific board member/executive and his/her associated persons in any one calendar year has reached 5,000 euros.

Who are board members, executives and associated persons?

Board members and executives are members of the Board of Directors and Executive Management, respectively, of Novo Nordisk A/S. Associated persons are defined as the following persons associated to a board member/executive: 1) spouse or cohabitant, 2) children under the age of 18 years, 3) relatives defined as brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents etc, children, grandchildren etc who have shared the same household with a board member/executive for at least one year, and 4) any legal person, including a company, a foundation or a partnership, which is controlled directly or indirectly by a board member/executive and/or a person mentioned in 1)-3), or to which a board member/executive and/or a person mentioned in 1)-3) has managerial responsibilities or economic interests substantially equivalent to the legal person.

What is trading/transaction?

Trading is any kind of transaction, including shares purchased or otherwise acquired, shares sold or otherwise disposed, gifts, mortgages and grants and exercise of options, but not heritage.

What is financial instrument and ID code?

Financial instrument includes shares listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange as well as ADRs listed on New York Stock Exchange, except for ADRs held in 401(k) retirement plan by US-based employees. The ID code is the code (ISIN DK001028081) of the Novo Nordisk share on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange, the code (NVOB) on London Stock Exchange or the code (NVO) on New York Stock Exchange.

What is date and place of transaction?

Date of transaction is the actual transaction date. The place of transaction is the actual place of transaction, ie Copenhagen Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange or New York Stock Exchange.

What is volume and value of transaction?

The volume of transaction is the number of shares (of DKK 2 nominal value) or other financial instruments traded. The transaction value is the number of shares traded multiplied by DKK 150. The exchange rate of the Danish Central Bank (Nationalbanken) on the date of transaction is used for calculating the transaction value in DKK in case of shares traded on London Stock Exchange and ADRs listed on New York Stock Exchange.

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. The company has the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems. 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 approximately 21,200 full-time employees in 78 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.

For further information please contact:


 Media:                   Investors: 
 Outside North America 
 Elin K Hansen Mogens     Thorsager Jensen  Tel (direct)
 Tel (direct):            Tel (direct): 
 (+45) 4442 3450          (+45) 4442 7945

                          Christian Qvist Frandsen
                          Tel (direct):
                          (+45) 4443 5182

 In North America: 

 Susan T Jackson          Mads Veggerby Lausten 
 Tel (direct):            Tel (direct):
 (+1) 609 919 7776        (+1) 609 919 7937

Stock Exchange Announcement No 24 / 2005



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