Novo Nordisk boosts obesity treatment supply chain with US $400M quality control facility

DENMARK – In response to surging global demand for obesity and diabetes treatments like Wegovy and Ozempic, Novo Nordisk is strengthening its manufacturing and quality control operations.

The company has announced a substantial investment of DKK 2.9 billion (approximately US US $409 million) in a new, state-of-the-art quality control laboratory in Hillerød, Denmark.

This facility will consolidate quality control processes and position Novo to meet both current and future capacity demands. Construction has already begun, with completion expected in 2027.

The 53,000-square-meter facility is the company’s largest investment in quality control to date.

According to Erik Lorin Rasmussen, Novo’s Senior Vice President for Aseptic Manufacturing, the laboratory will support the company’s expanded manufacturing efforts and evolving regulatory requirements.

“As we expand our manufacturing capacity and anticipate new products to meet the growing global demand, this new quality control facility will play an important role in ensuring the quality of our products,” Rasmussen noted.

This initiative aligns with Novo Nordisk’s broader strategy to scale production in response to the soaring demand for its GLP-1 agonists.

These drugs have become central to combating obesity and diabetes globally, reshaping treatment paradigms and leading to record profits for the company.

Scaling production capacity worldwide

Novo Nordisk has been on a multi-year spending spree to bolster its manufacturing capabilities. In addition to the Hillerød lab, the company recently announced significant projects including:

• A US $2.41 billion investment in Kalundborg: This 700,000-square-foot facility will manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients for future late-phase clinical products, with production starting by 2027​.
• US $4.1 billion for a second fill-finish plant in North Carolina: Set to produce Ozempic and Wegovy, this project is part of Novo’s US $6.8 billion manufacturing investment for 2024​.
• Acquisition of facilities from Catalent and Novavax: Novo Nordisk is enhancing its production capacity through strategic acquisitions, including three fill-finish sites from Catalent for US $11 billion and a manufacturing plant in the Czech Republic from Novavax for US $200 million.

Obesity treatment spurs economic growth

The company’s rapid expansion reflects its pivotal role in the global fight against obesity, which the World Health Organization has termed a public health crisis.

Obesity-related drugs like Wegovy have propelled Novo into a leadership position, fueling not only its financial growth but also Denmark’s economy.

The Danish government recently raised its 2024 GDP forecast from 1.9% to 3.0%, citing pharmaceutical exports—especially from Novo—as a major driver.

Around 20% of the country’s employment growth has been linked to Novo Nordisk’s expansion, underscoring the societal impact of the company’s success​.