Novo Nordisk to Undergo Major Restructuring, Cutting 9,000 Jobs Worldwide

Novo Nordisk has announced the launch of a major restructuring plan, which will involve cutting about 9,000 employees worldwide—over 11% of the company’s total workforce. According to the company, the goal of this decision is to simplify its organizational structure, improve decision-making efficiency, and allocate more resources to core growth areas such as diabetes and obesity.

In recent years, as the business expanded rapidly, Novo Nordisk’s organizational structure became increasingly complex, and operating costs also rose. At the same time, the market environment has been quietly shifting. Competition in the obesity treatment sector, in particular, has intensified, and consumers now have more choices than ever. The company believes that only through bold reforms can it maintain its leadership position in this new competitive landscape.

“As the global leader in diabetes and obesity, we must continuously adapt to change and ensure that our resources are invested where they create the most value,” said President and CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen in a statement. He emphasized that the company needs to build a stronger performance-driven culture in order to respond to challenges more quickly and with greater agility.

The layoffs will be extensive, covering headquarters as well as functional departments across regions worldwide. Novo Nordisk expects that by the end of 2026, the restructuring will generate annual savings of about 8 billion Danish kroner (around 1 billion euros), which will be reinvested into commercialization and R&D projects to accelerate innovation in diabetes and obesity treatment.

Novo Nordisk also acknowledged that the loss of talent is regrettable, but said it is a necessary step to achieve its long-term strategic goals. Going forward, the company aims to enhance focus and execution through this transformation plan, thereby helping millions of patients with chronic diseases worldwide gain access to more sustainable treatment solutions.