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Novo Nordisk A/S Novo All Telephone: Internet: CVR Number:Corporate Communications 2880 Bagsvrd +45 4444 8888 www.novonordisk.com 24256790

Denmark Telefax:+45 4444 2314

Press Release

11 May 2004

Insulin analogues insulin detemir (Levemir) andNovoRapid are superior to traditional treatmentsaccording to a new study

Levemir (insulin detemir) in combination with NovoRapid offer a moreeffective treatment option than traditional Neutral Protamine Hagedorn (NPH)insulin and human soluble insulin (HSI) in basal-bolus therapy for people withtype 1 diabetes, according to the findings of a new multinational study.

The study1, published in the latest issue of Diabetologia, showed that taking

Levemir as a basal therapy in combination with NovoRapid as a mealtimebolus insulin controlled blood glucose levels more effectively than traditionalNPH/HSI basal-bolus therapy and resulted in lower body weight.

Designed to mimic natural insulin release and provide a high level of glycaemiccontrol, a basal-bolus regimen consists of bolus injections of short-actinginsulin before meals to control the blood glucose surge following foodconsumption, and a basal injection of intermediate- or long-acting insulin tocontrol blood glucose levels between meals and during the night. Basal-bolustherapy is considered the best approach for maintaining optimal glycaemiccontrol2.

Effectively controlling blood glucose over the course of a day is the goal ofevery insulin therapy. Basal-bolus therapy provides the best opportunity toachieve control of blood glucose2, but traditionally this has been hard tomaintain using conventional NPH insulin and human soluble insulin, said thelead author of the study, Professor Kjeld Hermansen, head of Department ofEndocrinology and Metabolism, University of Aarhus, Denmark. He continued:With the new insulin analogues, we have got medications that can give peoplewith diabetes more confidence that their condition is under control.


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Professor Hermansen added, Insulin analogues, such as Levemir could bethe first choice over NPH insulin because of their superior control of bloodglucose over many hours.

Study and findings

The study included 595 people with type 1 diabetes randomly assigned tobasal-bolus therapy with either Levemir/NovoRapid or NPH/HSI. Keyfindings of the study include:

! Lowers HbA1cMean HbA1c was significantly lower in the Levemir/NovoRapid treatmentgroup than in the NPH/HSI treatment arm after 18 weeks of treatment(7.88% versus 8.11%, respectively). HbA1c is the amount of haemoglobinwith glucose attached to it, and reflects long-term glycaemic control. Theaverage change in HbA1c from baseline to the end of treatment was a dropof 0.50% for the Levemir/NovoRapid group compared to a drop of 0.28%for the NPH/HSI group.

! Glucose levels are more predictableThe day-to-day variation in plasma glucose within a person, based on self-measurement during normal weekdays within the last week of treatment wasstatistically significantly lower in the Levemir/NovoRapid group than theNPH/HSI group.

! Hypoglycaemic episodes reducedThe occurrence of hypoglycaemic episodes per person-year was significantly

lower in the Levemir/NovoRapid arm than the HPH/HSI group, bothoverall and during the night. The overall risk of hypoglycaemia was 21%lower in the Levemir/NovoRapid group, and the risk of nocturnal andmajor nocturnal hypoglycaemia was 55% and 83% lower, respectively, forthe group taking Levemir/NovoRapid compared to those taking NPH/HSI.

! Reduced weightA statistically significant difference in mean body weight was observed in thepeople with diabetes taking the analogues Levemir/NovoRapid incombination. After 18 weeks of treatment the mean body weight was 1.0 kglower in the Levemir/NovoRapid group.

This trial proves that insulin analogues, such as Levemir and NovoRapid,provide a more physiologic insulin action profile compared with conventionalinsulins in a basal-bolus regimen and are superior in terms of improvedglycaemic control, fewer hypoglycaemic events and no weight gain, ProfessorHermansen said.


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Availability

Levemir was launched in Switzerland in March and will be made available inkey European markets in the second half of 2004. It will be available in Penfill

cartridges and FlexPen, Novo Nordisks prefilled insulin pen.

Notes to Editors:

! Full prescribing information for Levemir (insulin detemir) and NovoRapid(insulin aspart) is available by contacting the manufacturer or onwww.levemir.com and www.novorapid.com

! Levemir and NovoRapid are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk A/S.

Novo Nordisk is a focused healthcare company. Novo Nordisk holds the broadest diabetes product

portfolio in the industry, including the most advanced products within the area of insulin deliverysystems. Novo Nordisk is a world leader in diabetes care. In addition, Novo Nordisk has a leadingposition within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormonereplacement therapy. Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products andservices that make a significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. Withheadquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 18,800 people in 69 countriesand markets its products in 179 countries. For further company information visitwww.novonordisk.com

For further information please contact:

Media: Investors:

Mads Cordt Andersen Peter HaahrTel (direct): (+45) 4442 6718 Tel (direct): (+45) 4442 1207

References

1K. Hermansen, P Fontaine, K.K Kukolja, V. Peterkova, G. Leth, M-A. Gall. Benefits of insulinanalogues over human insulins: Lower HbAlc and less hypoglycaemia using insulin detemir andinsulin aspart. Diabetologia 2004; Vol 47(4):622-629

2The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial Research Group (DCCT). The effect of intensivetreatment of diabetes on the development and progression of long-term complications ininsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. N Eng J Med 1993;329(14):977-86.

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