Novo Nordisk Cuts Employee Bonuses in Denmark Amid Slower Growth

Novo Nordisk will cut employee bonuses in Denmark due to slower growth, a result of the company's cost-cutting efforts and increased competition from Eli Lilly and generic versions of its Ozempic and Wegovy treatments. The reduction will apply to eligible employees for the 2025 yearly bonus. The company's new CEO has implemented a global hiring freeze and is focusing on discipline in spending.

Novo Nordisk A/S, a leading manufacturer of diabetes and weight-loss treatments, has announced that it will reduce employee bonuses in Denmark for the 2025 year. The decision follows the company's slower growth trajectory and intensified competition from Eli Lilly & Co. and generic versions of its blockbuster diabetes shot Ozempic and weight-loss treatment Wegovy [1].

The reduction in bonuses, which will apply to eligible employees, is a result of Novo's lowered forecast and part of the company's broader cost-cutting push. Novo Nordisk's new CEO, Maziar Mike Doustdar, has emphasized the need for greater discipline and prudence in spending. This includes a global hiring freeze for non-business-critical roles, which was implemented earlier this week [2].

Novo Nordisk is facing intense competition in the obesity market, with Bloomberg Intelligence estimating that Lilly's weight-loss franchise could surpass Novo's this year. The global obesity market is projected to be worth $100 billion annually by 2030, with Lilly potentially taking more than half of that market share [1].

To combat this competition and improve access to its medications, Novo Nordisk has partnered with GoodRx to offer Ozempic and Wegovy at a reduced price of $499 per month for eligible self-paying patients. This collaboration aims to bridge the gap in insurance coverage and make these in-demand GLP-1 medications more accessible to the uninsured and underinsured population [3].

The strategic move to expand access to its treatments through platforms like GoodRx underscores Novo Nordisk's commitment to balancing affordability with profitability. By targeting the 19 million uninsured and underinsured Americans, Novo Nordisk is positioning itself to capture market share and preempt legislative risks [3].

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-22/novo-to-cut-employee-bonuses-in-denmark-due-to-slower-growth
[2] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/pharma-and-life-sciences/novo-nordisks-new-ceo-starts-hiring-freeze-in-cost-cutting-push
[3] https://www.ainvest.com/news/novo-nordisk-expands-access-ozempic-wegovy-goodrx-platforms-2508/