Novo CEO says the 9,000 job cuts are nearly complete

Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar said in a LinkedIn post on Friday, October 31, that employees affected by the company's global job cuts have been notified in the vast majority of Novo's locations, though the timing varies by country because of different local labor laws ^[1].

The restructuring, which Doustdar launched last month, calls for cutting 9,000 jobs worldwide ^[1]. Novo Nordisk booked about 8 billion Danish kroner in one-off costs tied to the cuts in the third quarter ^[1]. The reductions come as Novo faces intense competition in the United States, the world's largest drug market, from rival Eli Lilly ^[1].

The sources do not specify how many of the 9,000 positions are in the United States versus other countries, nor do they detail severance terms, which departments are most affected, or a firm completion date. Reuters reports only that notifications have gone out in "the vast majority" of Novo's locations, not that the process is finished everywhere ^[1].

Why it matters for patients

This is a corporate workforce story, not a change to any drug's approval, price, or supply. Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus are all semaglutide products made by Novo Nordisk, and none of the sources say the job cuts affect manufacturing, prescriptions, insurance coverage, or product availability for patients ^[1].

Still, patients often watch a drugmaker's cost-cutting moves for hints about where the company is headed. Novo's restructuring is explicitly framed around competitive pressure from Eli Lilly, whose tirzepatide products, Mounjaro and Zepbound, have been gaining ground in the U.S. weight-loss and diabetes markets ^[1]. Doustdar's comments suggest the company is trying to move quickly to reset its cost base while continuing to compete on price and access in that market, though the sources do not describe any specific pricing or access changes tied to the layoffs.

For now, there is nothing in the available reporting to indicate that patients currently using semaglutide products need to expect disruptions. The one-off charge of 8 billion kroner reflects the financial cost of the restructuring itself, such as severance and related expenses, rather than a change in drug supply chains ^[1]. It is not yet known from these sources whether the cuts touch research and development, sales, manufacturing, or corporate staff specifically, which would matter for judging any longer-term effect on the company's drug pipeline or its ability to compete on price.

What happens next

Doustdar said notifications have already reached the vast majority of Novo's locations as of October 31, but the process is not described as fully complete everywhere, since local laws affect the pace of layoffs in different countries ^[1]. The sources do not include a specific date by which all cuts will be finalized, nor do they detail next steps for affected employees or any updated guidance on how the restructuring might shape Novo's product strategy going forward. Readers should watch for future company statements or earnings updates that might clarify the geographic breakdown of the cuts, their effect on specific drug programs, or any resulting changes to how Novo prices or markets its semaglutide products in the United States.