Novonesis and Novo Nordisk partner to explore gut microbiome solutions for metabolic health and obesity prevention

Novonesis and Novo Nordisk partner to explore gut microbiome solutions for metabolic health and obesity prevention

(IN BRIEF) Novonesis and Novo Nordisk have formed a research partnership to study how the gut microbiome can support metabolic health and help prevent obesity-related complications. The collaboration will explore synbiotic food supplements, combining probiotics and prebiotics, to assess their effect on key health markers such as blood sugar and cholesterol. Researchers will also investigate new microbiome-based biomarkers to better predict and monitor individual health outcomes. Novonesis emphasizes its commitment to advancing biosolutions that enhance overall well-being, while Novo Nordisk highlights the role of prevention in tackling obesity, a disease linked to more than 200 health complications. Together, the companies aim to translate microbiome science into innovative, scalable solutions that promote healthier lives worldwide.

(PRESS RELEASE) COPENHAGEN, 8-Sep-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Novonesis and Novo Nordisk have entered into a new scientific partnership aimed at advancing knowledge on the gut microbiome and its influence on metabolic health. The microbiome, composed of trillions of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, plays a central role in multiple aspects of human well-being. With research in this field rapidly accelerating, the two companies will combine expertise to explore solutions that harness the microbiome to support long-term health outcomes.

The collaboration will initially focus on developing and testing synbiotic food supplements that bring together probiotics, the living microorganisms that confer health benefits, and prebiotics, the nutrients that sustain them. These synbiotics will be evaluated for their potential to improve metabolic health markers such as cholesterol levels and blood glucose control. Beyond supplementation, the partnership aims to identify new biomarkers and explore how microbiome-based indicators could be used to predict and monitor an individual’s health trajectory.

Henrik Joerck Nielsen, Executive Vice President, Human Health Biosolutions & Strategy at Novonesis, commented: “The human microbiome influences everything from digestion and immunity to mood and overall wellness. Working with Novo Nordisk allows us to deepen our understanding of the gut microbiome’s role in metabolic health and to create innovative biosolutions with real-world impact across life stages.”

The partnership is also closely tied to global efforts to address obesity, which the World Health Organization classifies as a chronic, progressive disease associated with over 200 health complications, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Professor Nadeem Sarwar, Corporate Vice President and Head of the Transformational Prevention Unit in Obesity at Novo Nordisk, said: “Obesity is influenced by many factors, from genetics to hormones, but we increasingly see the gut as playing a vital role in metabolic balance. Prevention is at the core of our strategy, and through this collaboration with Novonesis we can investigate how microbiome-based solutions might help reduce the risk of obesity and improve health outcomes.”

Sarwar added that the Transformational Prevention Unit’s mission is to deliver scalable, science-driven solutions to anticipate and prevent obesity and its consequences, noting that partnerships such as this one are essential to achieving meaningful progress.

By joining forces, Novonesis and Novo Nordisk aim to accelerate microbiome research into practical health applications, with the shared goal of shaping future strategies for prevention, early intervention, and metabolic wellness.

About Novonesis

Novonesis is leading the era of biosolutions. By leveraging the power of microbiology with science, we transform the way the world produces, consumes and lives. In more than 30 industries around the world, our biosolutions are already creating value for thousands of customers and benefiting the planet. Our 10,000 people worldwide work closely with our partners and customers to transform business with biology.

Let’s better our world with biology.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases, built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines, and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 78,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.

References:

1. Marco ML. Defining how microorganisms benefit human health. Microbial Biotechnology (2020). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13685.
2. Science Direct, Chapter 12 – The Role of Prebiotics in Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2019). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-814468-8.00012-0
3. World Health Organization. Obesity and Overweight (2025). Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight.
4. Horn, D.B., Almandoz, J. P., & Look, M. What is clinically relevant weight loss for your patients and how can it be achieved? A narrative review. Postgraduate medicine (2022), 134(4), 359–375.
5. Delzenne, N.M., Bindels, L.B., Neyrinck, A.M. et al. The gut microbiome and dietary fibres: implications in obesity, cardiometabolic diseases and cancer. Nat Rev Microbiol (2024). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41579-024-01108-z.

Media Contact:

Emma Ulrikke Ljung
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media-relations@novozymes.com
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SOURCE: Novozymes A/S