Joining Forces, Demerging…and the Future

Over the next 65 years, both companies expanded rapidly. Both established large research units and competed furiously to be the first on the market with new products for the treatment of diabetes. Nordisk and Novo also began to diversify by developing other products. By the time the two companies merged in 1989, Novo had become the world's largest producer of industrial enzymes, and Nordisk developed drugs for the treatment of hemophilia and was one of the largest suppliers of human growth hormone.

The new company, Novo Nordisk A/S, maintained its status as a world leader in diabetes care and an innovator of products for hemophilia and growth hormone deficiency. For years, the healthcare and enzyme interests worked together, generating knowledge in the fields of fermentation, recovery, and related biotechnologies.

Eventually, however, differences between the two interests widened, and in 2000 the company demerged the enzyme business, giving it the name Novozymes A/S. The two businesses – healthcare and enzymes – now have greater operational freedom and can focus on what they do best. Today, Novo Nordisk and Novozymes are managed by the investment and holding company, Novo A/S.

What will the future bring? If the past is any indication, we can be sure of one thing: it will be groundbreaking and exciting.