Novo Nordisk Announces Major Restructuring, Cuts 9,000 Jobs Worldwide

Novo Nordisk, a leading pharmaceutical company, has unveiled a significant restructuring plan that includes the elimination of approximately 9,000 positions globally. This move, announced by new CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar, aims to generate annualized savings of around $1.25 billion through 2026 and redirect resources towards growth opportunities in diabetes and obesity treatments.

Workforce Reduction and Financial Impact

The layoffs, representing an 11% reduction in Novo Nordisk's total workforce of 78,400, will commence immediately. The restructuring effort will affect about 5,000 employees in Denmark alone. The company expects to incur one-off costs of 9 billion Danish Kroner ($1.41 billion) in the third quarter of 2025, primarily due to impairment and severance charges.

In connection with the restructuring, Novo Nordisk has revised its full-year profit growth guidance. The company now anticipates operating profit growth between 4% and 10% at constant currencies, down from the previous projection of 10% to 16%. This adjustment reflects a "one-off negative impact of around 6 percentage points" on projected growth.

Strategic Realignment and Industry Response

CEO Doustdar emphasized that the restructuring is designed to instill an "increased performance-based culture" across the company and prioritize investments for maximum impact. "Our markets are evolving," Doustdar stated. "Our company must evolve as well."

The move has been met with cautious optimism from industry analysts. BMO Capital Markets described the structural reorganization as "a clear step in the right direction" but noted that Novo Nordisk will still need to demonstrate "concrete results."

R&D and Commercial Focus

Novo Nordisk plans to redirect the savings generated from this restructuring towards growth opportunities in diabetes and obesity, with a particular emphasis on commercial execution and research and development. The company aims to simplify its business operations and improve decision-making speed in these key therapeutic areas.

The pharmaceutical giant is expected to provide more detailed information about the impact of these changes and its future strategy in its third-quarter business report, scheduled for release on November 5, 2025.