Novo Nordisk A/S: Final Results

BAGSAERD, DENMARK--(Marketwire - February 02, 2010) -

Novo Nordisk increased operating profit by 21% in 2009

In 2010, operating profit is expected to increase by around 10%

-- Sales increased by 12% in Danish kroner and by 11% in local currencies.

       *Sales of modern insulins increased by 24%
       (23% in local currencies).

       *Sales of NovoSeven® increased by 11%
       (10% in local currencies).

       *Sales of Norditropin® increased by 14%
       (10% in local currencies).

       *Sales in North America increased by 21%
       (15% in local currencies).

       *Sales in International Operations increased by 17%
       (19% in local currencies).

-- Gross margin improved by 1.8 percentage points to 79.6% in 2009,
   primarily reflecting continued productivity improvements, price
   increases in the US and a positive currency impact of around 0.4
   percentage points.

-- Reported operating profit increased by 21% to DKK 14,933 million.
   Adjusted for the impact from currencies underlying operating profit
   increased by more than 15%.

-- Net profit increased by 12% to DKK 10,768 million. Earnings per share
   (diluted) increased by 15% to DKK 17.82.

-- At the Annual General Meeting on 24 March 2010, the Board of Directors
   will propose a 25% increase in dividend to DKK 7.50 per share of DKK 1.
   The Board of Directors has furthermore decided to initiate a new share
   repurchase programme of DKK 7.5 billion during 2010.

-- In January 2010, Novo Nordisk received marketing authorisation for
   Victoza®, the once-daily human GLP-1 analogue for the treatment of
   type 2 diabetes, from both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
   and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

-- For 2010, sales growth measured in local currencies is expected to be
   in the range of 6-10% whereas operating profit measured in local
   currencies is expected to increase by around 10%.

Lars Rebien Sørensen, president and CEO, said: "We are satisfied with the solid business performance in 2009, which is primarily driven by the robust sales growth for our portfolio of modern insulins. The launch of Victoza® in Europe is very encouraging and we look forward to continuing the global roll-out of Victoza® following the recent approvals in the US and Japan."

Further information about Novo Nordisk is available on the company's homepage http://novonordisk.com/

Company Announcement no 4 2010 : http://hugin.info/2013/R/1379438/339497.pdf