Novo Nordisk layoffs: Pharma major begins job cuts in US amid fierce weight-loss drug battle — Here’s what we know

Layoffs at Novo Nordisk: Denmark-based pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has started layoffs in the US market. According to the news agency, the staff who will be affected by the dismissal will be informed between this week and next week. Reuterson Wednesday, October 15, 2025, quoting an email and people aware of the development.

Novo Nordisk’s possible layoffs come as the pharmaceutical giant, which developed the weight-loss drug Wegovy, tries to cut costs amid a fierce battle with Eli Lilly for the weight-loss drug market, according to the agency’s report.

The pharmaceutical company’s U.S. layoffs began Tuesday and will continue through next week, according to the email cited in the story. The U.S. layoffs follow the company’s plans to cut nearly 5,000 jobs in its home market.

Novo Nordisk ADR shares on the NYSE fell more than 1% to $56.10, from 56.76% in Wednesday’s intraday session. Shares are currently trading down 0.09% at $56.61 as of 2:04 PM (EDT), according to MarketWatch data.

Which teams will be affected?

The agency report included a schedule showing the layoffs are expected to affect human resources, clinical development, rare diseases, medical and regulatory, legal, ethics and compliance, marketing and sales, finance, public relations and other departments.

Although the news agency could not confirm how many people were affected, the report highlighted that Novo plans to cut 9,000 jobs from its global workforce as new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mike Doustdar carries out a company-wide restructuring.

The pharmaceutical company had previously stated that the global process would take time and that its “top priority is to support our employees,” according to the agency’s report.

The layoffs at Novo Nordisk come as Doustdar seeks to restore investor confidence by focusing more tightly on commercial execution and obesity and diabetes treatment areas.