Transaction in Own Shares


Novo Nordisk A/S - Share repurchase programme

On 15 August 2008 Novo Nordisk initiated its share repurchase
programme in accordance with the provisions of the European
Commission's regulation no 2273/2003 of 22 December 2003, also
referred to as the Safe Harbour rules.

Under the programme Novo Nordisk will repurchase B shares for an
amount of up to DKK 1.7 billion in the period from 15 August 2008 to
19 December 2008.

Since the announcement as of 15 August 2008, the following
transactions have been made under the programme:


                         Number of shares     Average     Transaction
                                           purchase price  value, DKK
15 August 2008                      50,000       310.5600  15,528,000
18 August 2008                      50,000       310.1800  15,509,000
19 August 2008                      60,000       299.9000  17,994,000
20 August 2008                      50,000       298.3600  14,918,000
21 August 2008                      50,000       295.1700  14,758,500
22 August 2008                      50,000       292.7000  14,635,000
Accumulated under the
programme                          310,000                 93,342,500


Transactions related to Novo Nordisk's incentive programmes have
resulted in a net sale by Novo Nordisk of 51,070 B-shares in the
period from 14 August 2008 to 21 August 2008. The shares in these
transactions were not part of the Safe Harbour repurchase programme.

With the transactions stated above, Novo Nordisk owns a total of
21,522,960 treasury shares, corresponding to 3.4% of the share
capital. The total amount of shares in the company is 634,000,000
including treasury shares.

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes
care. 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 26,300
employees in 80 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.

Further information:

Media:                 Investors:


Mette Kruse Danielsen  Mads Veggerby Lausten
Tel: (+45) 4442 3883   Tel: (+45) 4443 7919
mkd@novonordisk.com    mlau@novonordisk.com

                       Hans Rommer
                       Tel: (+45) 4442 4765
                       hrmm@novonordisk.com

In North America:
Sean Clements
Tel: (+1) 609 514 8316
secl@novonordisk.com


Company Announcement no 53 / 2008