Exclusive-Novo Nordisk cuts hit production line jobs at key US plant, posts show

By Maggie Fick and Soren Jeppesen LONDON/COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk has laid off dozens of employees at the largest U.S. manufacturing site for its blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs, a Reuters review of LinkedIn posts showed, a signal of where it is making cuts in a major restructuring under new CEO Mike Doustdar. The previously unreported cuts included staff in manufacturing roles, from quality control to production line technicians, at Novo's major Clayton, North Carolina, plant and other facilities in the state, an analysis of 73 posts and profiles show. The layoffs, while only a small part of a planned 9,000 job cuts globally, underscore how Novo is cutting back even on frontline production in the top market for Wegovy as it looks to sharpen its focus, trim costs, and claw back lost ground in fierce competition with rival Eli Lilly. The cuts, which follow earlier ones focused on the obesity education team in the U.S., come as the administration of President Donald Trump pressures pharmaceutical companies to expand U.S. drug production and create more domestic jobs. The Danish drugmaker last year became Europe's most valuable listed company on unprecedented demand for weight-loss drugs before a sharp share price slide as sales growth slowed. It is now trying to turn around its fortunes and reduce costs and staff that bloated as it rode the Wegovy boom. A Novo spokesperson declined a Reuters request for further details beyond last month's global layoffs announcement. "This process takes time and our highest priority is to support our employees," the spokesperson said. PLANT MAKES WEGOVY, OZEMPIC The announced wider cuts helped boost Novo's shares, though the company has provided little detail about its plans. It said around 5,000 jobs would be cut in its native Denmark. The North Carolina cuts hit technical manufacturing workers, project coordinators, a strategic communications manager and an HR assistant, the posts revealed. Of the total, 47 directly posted they were looking for work or had been laid off. Novo's Clayton facility makes semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic. It also does manufacturing steps including filling, finishing and packaging the injections. It also will play a key role in producing the new pill version of Wegovy once that becomes available. CEO Doustdar this month heralded an ongoing $4.1 billion expansion at the North Carolina plant that employed some 2,500 people in 2024 and was expected to add 1,000 more. Reuters could not determine the exact number or the reason for the layoffs in Clayton, which came three weeks after Doustdar announced the broader restructuring. Reuters contacted about 30 of the Novo employees who posted on LinkedIn that they had been laid off. One replied, saying a non-disclosure agreement prevented them from speaking to the media. (Reporting by Maggie Fick in London and Soren Jeppesen in Copenhagen; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Bill Berkrot)

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