Novo Nordisk's Workforce Reduction Reaches 13,000 as Company Redirects Funds to R&D

NewsData.io · United States · Sep 22, 2026

Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Maziar Doustdar confirmed the company's total workforce has shrunk by approximately 13,000 over the past year, bringing headcount to 67,000 from a peak of 78,000 in 2025. The reduction includes 9,000 layoffs from a fall 2025 restructuring plus 4,000 additional departures through attrition, unfilled roles, and voluntary exits. The cuts are intended to free up capital for R&D investment as the Danish pharma giant works to reclaim market share in the GLP-1 weight loss space from rival Eli Lilly. Staffing agencies serving biopharma clients should note continued contraction in this sector alongside selective R&D hiring investment.