Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has recruited approximately 2,000 employees this year, following last year's downsizing which saw about ten percent of its workforce depart, Bloomberg News reports. Around 1,400 of these new hires have already commenced their roles, including 398 based in Denmark.

However, the recruitment drive does not represent a net increase in total headcount, which stood at just over 69,500 at the end of 2025, as the company simultaneously manages a voluntary turnover rate of approximately five percent per annum.

The restructuring, spearheaded by CEO Mike Doustdar, aims to streamline the organization and bolster competitiveness after the company lost ground in the obesity drug market.

The stock has declined by roughly 20 percent this year, though it gained 3.5 percent during Thursday's session.
The reorganization has also triggered high-profile departures, notably that of scientist Lotte Bjerre Knudsen, who played a pivotal role in the development of GLP-1 therapies.