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Novo Nordisk enhances his presence in India with new collaborations and hiring
The Danish company doubles the staff dedicated to processes and collaborates with AI start-ups to deal with the growing demand of its slimming drugs
Isabella V14 October 2024

 


 Novo Nordisk is strengthening its presence in India, doubling its global staff dedicated to trials and partnering with local AI startups. This expansion aligns with increased demand for its slimming drugs, particularly Wegovy.

Key points:

  •  Doubling the global process leaders in India in the next 3-4 years.
  •  Collaborations with 10 Indian AI start-ups.
  •  Operating address in India will become a center of excellence similar to the headquarters in Denmark.
  •  Overall headcount growth of 16 percent to 5,000.


BENGALURU, Oct. 11--Novo Nordisk, a fast-growing Danish pharmaceutical company, is stepping up its operations in India, where it has established strategic partnerships with ten start-ups specializing in AI. This development comes at a time of growing global demand for its slimming drugs, particularly Wegovy, which has greatly increased the company’s visibility. John Dawber, managing director for global business services at Novo, said the company plans to double the number of global process leaders located in India in the next three to four years, while also expanding its total staff by 16 percent to 5,000 by next year. The Indian center, which has been in operation for 17 years in Bengaluru, plays an important role in managing huge volumes of data regarding drug safety and efficacy, an essential operation for post-marketing monitoring and regulatory compliance. By implementing advanced AI tools, the company’s medical writers are succeeding in reducing the time required for quality checks on documents from 40 hours to about 40 minutes per document. This process speeds up the preparation of reports and documentation for regulatory authorities around the world. Dawber indicated that, within three years, the Indian center could become a near-perfect operating model, similar to the headquarters in Bagsvaerd, Denmark, in terms of managing crucial R&D data. Currently, about half of Novo’s global safety assessment work is handled by its Indian unit, which is responsible for recording and sharing side effect reports with international health authorities. While not disclosing the amount of investment, Novo has expressed openness to further collaborations with local start-ups. Against the competitive backdrop of the weight-loss market, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are preparing to launch their products in India, while the global market for such therapies could reach $150 billion over the next decade. The increased activity in India is thus not only a response to growing demand, but also a strategy to consolidate Novo’s position in a rapidly evolving industry. 

This development marks an important step for the company and for the future of public health in India.