
The decision to discontinue all R&D within inflammatory disorders follows a review of Novo Nordisk’s strategic position in the therapeutic area after the recently announced discontinuation of the company’s most advanced compound, anti-IL-20 for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
“The discontinuation of anti-IL-20 delays our earliest possible entrance into the market for anti-inflammatory therapeutics to the late 2020s,” said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, executive vice president and chief science officer of Novo Nordisk. “Significant unmet opportunities remain within diabetes, including prevention, obesity and diabetes complications. We have therefore decided to further increase our R&D efforts within diabetes which is our main business area.”
The decision will directly impact approximately 400 employees. Novo Nordisk currently estimates that it will be possible to offer other positions within the company to more than half of the affected employees. The company has initiated negotiations with the relevant local unions regarding redundancy plans.
Novo Nordisk expects that all ongoing clinical activities within inflammatory disorders will be finalized within the coming six months. After closure of the clinical trials, patients will be followed in accordance with the protocol and further treatment will be the responsibility of their doctors and according to local practices.
As a consequence of the discontinuation of all R&D activities within inflammatory disorders, the company expects to incur a non-recurring cost of around 700 million Danish kroner in 2014. Of this around 400 million Danish kroner relates to impairment of intangible assets, and around 300 million Danish kroner relates to other exit costs such as project closures and severance payments.
Novo Nordisk expects to provide an update of the financial guidance for 2014 in connection with the release of the financial results for the first nine months of 2014 on Oct. 30.
Date: September 2, 2014
Source: Novo Nordisk