Our history

Support for emergency relief efforts and refugees in response to the war in Ukraine, through the Novo Nordisk Foundation and additional donations. Present at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to let world leaders know about the potential of biotechnology in sustainable growth.

Novozymes and Chr. Hansen to combine and create a leading global biosolutions partner. For legal reasons, the announcement and all related material to the announcement can only be found on a dedicated microsite.

Launch of new corporate strategy: Unlocking growth – powered by biotech. Recognition of our commitment to sustainability with award of Terra Carta Seal by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. As Denmark aims to test more people for the Covid-19 virus, Novozymes and the Novo Nordisk Foundation donate essential equipment and knowledge to a new test facility established at The Serum Institute in Denmark. Transfer of a liquid handler from Novozymes’ R&D facilities expands testing speed and capacity. Acquisition of Synergia, Microbiome labs and the data Science platform of Biota. Product launches include Formea^® Prime, Pristine^® and Innova^® Quantum.

Peder Holk Nielsen steps down as CEO after 35 years in the company and Ester Baiget appointed new President and CEO as of February 1st, 2020. Acquisition of PrecisionBiotics to advance Novozymes human health business. Our Kalundborg enzyme fermentation plant – built in 1969 and the world’s largest – switches to 100% renewable energy. Novozymes turns 20.

Product launches include Innova^® Fit, Saphera^® Fiber, Microvia^®, Fiberex^®, Gluzyme^® Fortis, BioFresh^® 4+ and Fortiva^® Hemi. Expansion of Taegro^® into European and Latin American markets in collaboration with Syngenta.

Announcement of updated strategy: Better Business with Biology. Named most innovative company in Denmark by European Patent Office. The BioAg Alliance ends in its current form, as Novozymes and Bayer continue their partnership in a broader and more flexible setup. Announcement of partnerships with Univar Solutions and UPL. Opening of Innovation Campus in Lyngby, Denmark. Product launches include Fortiva^®, Innova^® Force and Fiberlife^®.

Novozymes named among the world’s top 3 best employers by Science Magazine.  Opening of Innovation and Technology Center in Turkey. Product launches include Innova® Lift, Innova^® Drive and Balancius^™, with our partner DSM.

Announcement of collaboration with Boeheringer Ingelheim in probiotics for poultry. Henrik Gürtler steps down as Chairman of Board of Directors and replaced by Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen. Product launches include Spirizyme^® T Portfolio, Palmora^® and BioPrep^® Fusion.

Biopharma division becomes an independent company, Albumedix. Product launches include Progress^® Uno, Amplify^® Prime, Frontia^® Fiberwash, Quara^® LowP, Saphera^® and Alterion^® with our partner Adisseo. Launch of Acceleron^® B-300 SAT - a microbial solution that helps boost corn yields - with Monsanto. Since replaced by B360 LCO technology, which is available from our partner Bayer.

Announcement of new strategy: “Partnering for Impact” and company purpose: “Together we find biological answers for better lives in a growing world – Let’s rethink tomorrow”

Provision of enzymatic solutions to cellulosic ethanol plants in the Americas and Europe. Product launches include Medley^®.

Appointment of Peder Holk Nielsen as CEO. The world’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant opens in Crescentino, Italy using Novozymes enzymes. Novozymes and Monsanto come together to create The BioAg Alliance, to develop and bring more sustainable BioAg solutions to farmers. 

Opening of enzymes for biofuels plant in Nebraska, U.S. Expansion of position in biocontrol segment with acquisition of Natural Industries. Global commercial agreement with Syngenta to market and distribute Taegro^®, a microbial-based biofungicide.

Acquisition of EMD/Merck Crop BioScience. Opening of new hyaluronic acid plant in China.

Acquisition of Brazilian BioAg company Turfal. Product launches include Cellic^®.

Inauguration of the world’s largest enzyme fermentation facility in China.

 President Bush visits U.S. headquarters. First step into BioAg with acquisition of Philom Bios.

Acquisition of GroPep and Delta marks the start of our biopharma business. 

Launch of integrity principles to help employees deal with issues such as bribery. Recognition of our work with ADM on low trans fats and oils with award of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.

Acquisition of Sybron marks the start of our microorganism business in America. Contract with the U.S. government to develop enzymes to convert biomass into low-carbon fuel. 

Novo Nordisk splits into three companies: Novo Nordisk A/S, Novozymes A/S and Novo A/S. Novozymes A/S is headed by CEO Steen Riisgaard. For the first time, customers can buy enzymes online via Novozymes’ new website.

Novo Nordisk publishes its first social report.

Launch of Kannase^® detergent enzyme. Opening of enzyme factory in Tianjin, China.

Launch of  DeniLite^®, the first enzyme for bleaching denim. 

Publication of environmental report – the first in Denmark. Novo Nordisk is also one of the first companies to institute a Triple Bottom Line approach.

Opening of Novo Nordisk in California, U.S. 

Novo and Nordisk merge to become Novo Nordisk. Opening of factory in Brazilian.

Launch of Lipolase^® enzyme for detergents, the first Novo made with genetically-engineered microorganisms.

Novo supplying about 60% of the world’s detergent enzymes.

Becomes the first Scandinavian company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

Establishment of environmental department.

Female employees demand equal pay for the first time. Novo shares are listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange.

Publication of studies showing that detergent enzymes are not a risk to consumers. U.S. health authorities determine that detergent enzymes are safe to use. Development of dust-free enzyme preparations, reducing factory workers’ allergy risk.

Arne Jacobsen–designed factory in Kalundborg, Denmark opens. Launch of several new and improved enzyme products for detergents. The starch industry becomes a major customer. Publication of article questioning the safety of enzymes in detergents published in British medical journal "The Lancet", garnering a lot of media attention in the U.S. This also spreads to Europe, leading to a drop in sales.

Some production moved to new facilities in Bagsvaerd, Denmark. Tripling of workforce, about half of which are women. 

Novo’s first fermentation-produced laundry detergent enzyme, Alcalase.

Launch of Novo Enzym for the detergent industry.

Introduction of a five-day work week. 

Launch of Novo’s first microbial enzyme, Termozym^®, followed by Aquazym^® in 1954.

Arne Jacobsen designs the “Ant” chair for Novo’s new canteen. The chair is still on sale to this day.

Establishment of the Novo Foundation to support scientific, social, and humanitarian causes.

Novo files for patent of the recovery of trypsin. This is Novo’s first ever patent application on an enzyme.

Trypsin production begins 

Novo scientists extract both insulin and trypsin from the same pancreatic glands. Previously, insulin extraction destroyed trypsin. This cuts expenses and reduces global demand for pancreases. The discovery also leads to trypsin crystals, Novo’s first enzymatic product, used for cleaning leather hides before tanning. Novo scientists also succeed in using bacteria to produce amylase, for textile desizing.

Introduction of special child allowances for employees with children. 

Thorvald Pedersen decides to expand the business into enzyme production.  

Novo builds first factory. Located in Fuglebakken, Denmark, it’s designed by Arne Jacobsen.

Brothers Harald and Thorvald Pedersen former employees of Nordisk form their own company, Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium. Their company and Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium would remain rivals until their eventual merger in 1989.

In March the first Danish patients are treated with insulin extracted from bovine pancreas. That spring August Krogh and Dr. Hagedorn establish Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium. 

Canadians Frederick G. Banting and Charles Best discover how to extract insulin from animals to treat diabetes in humans.