Our history spans a century and it all began with two small Danish companies, Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium and Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium.
After hearing of the discovery of insulin in 1921, Danish Nobel laureate August Krogh and his wife Marie, a doctor living with diabetes, were intrigued. At Marie’s urging, August travelled to Canada to seek permission from the researchers to produce this life-saving medicine in Denmark. Upon August’s return, Marie also convinced the scientist Hans Christian Hagedorn to join her husband and August Kongsted from Løvens Kemiske Fabrik. In March 1923, the first patients were treated with their insulin, setting in motion a century of innovation within protein-based treatments for people living with serious chronic diseases.
Explore our history
Insulin production begins in Scandinavia
Hagedorn's villa in Hellerup where he and August Krogh began experimenting with extracting insulin
Insulin production begins in Scandinavia
Hagedorn's villa in Hellerup where he and August Krogh began experimenting with extracting insulin

The evolution of the Novo Nordisk logo
The race to defeat diabetes begins
The race to defeat diabetes begins

The evolution of the Novo Nordisk logo
Insulin production in the 1930s at Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium
Steno Memorial Hospital founded in 1932 and Hvidøre Diabetes Sanatorium founded in 1938
Understanding patients’ needs
Understanding patients’ needs
Steno Memorial Hospital founded in 1932 and Hvidøre Diabetes Sanatorium founded in 1938
NPH decreases the burden of diabetes treatment
Hans Christian Hagedorn
NPH decreases the burden of diabetes treatment
Hans Christian Hagedorn
Insulin production in the 1940s at Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium
Foundation ownership supports our development
Harald and Thorvald Pedersen founded the Novo Foundation in 1951
Foundation ownership supports our development
Harald and Thorvald Pedersen founded the Novo Foundation in 1951
Fermentation tanks for penicillin and streptomycin
New frontiers in innovation
New frontiers in innovation
Fermentation tanks for penicillin and streptomycin
Novo Nordisk production plant in Kalundborg
Ramping up production
Ramping up production
Novo Nordisk production plant in Kalundborg
Addressing new unmet needs
Addressing new unmet needs
Engineering the insulin of tomorrow
Human Monocomponent insulin crystals seen through a microscope
Engineering the insulin of tomorrow
Human Monocomponent insulin crystals seen through a microscope
The Novo Syringe from 1925 and the first NovoPen® device from 1985
The Novo Syringe from 1925 and the first NovoPen® device from 1985
Dr. Ulla Hedner
New hope for rare bleeding disorders
New hope for rare bleeding disorders
Dr. Ulla Hedner
Improving care and access around the world
Improving care and access around the world
Changing the world by changing diabetes
Changing the world by changing diabetes
Our values – the Novo Nordisk Way
Our values – the Novo Nordisk Way
Taking on the rise of serious chronic diseases
Mexico City
Taking on the rise of serious chronic diseases
Mexico City
Discovering and developing new protein peptide-based therapies
First oral GLP-1 treatment for type 2 diabetes
First oral GLP-1 treatment for type 2 diabetes
Discovering and developing new protein peptide-based therapies
Strategies for a healthier future
Strategies for a healthier future
1923-2023 Driving change for generations
Young people at Tingbjerg, Denmark.
1923-2023 Driving change for generations
Young people at Tingbjerg, Denmark.