Novo Nordisk teams with OpenAI

Novo Nordisk has partnered with OpenAI to use artificial intelligence across drug discovery, manufacturing, supply chains and commercial work. (cnbc.com) The Danish drugmaker said on Tuesday, April 14, that the deal is meant to analyze large datasets, identify new drug candidates and shorten the path from early research to patient use. Reuters reported the companies have already started pilot projects. (reuters.com) Novo Nordisk said the partnership also covers workforce upskilling, while CNBC reported the companies plan customized models and agent-like software tools for early research and clinical development. (cnbc.com) Drug discovery starts with huge sets of lab, trial and patient data, and researchers use software to spot patterns that may point to a useful molecule. Manufacturing and supply-chain systems do similar pattern-finding work on factory output, inventory and distribution. (openai.com) Novo Nordisk is applying that approach across a business that spans research, manufacturing, supplier partnerships and distribution, according to its 2025 annual report. The company said its value chain covers every stage from identifying treatments to getting medicines to patients. (novonordisk.com) The timing matters for Novo Nordisk because demand for obesity and diabetes medicines has strained production networks in recent years, and Reuters said the company has fallen behind Eli Lilly in the weight-loss drug market. (reuters.com) Novo Nordisk’s 2025 sales rose 6% in Danish kroner to 309.1 billion kroner, according to its annual report, giving the company room to invest in new manufacturing and digital systems while it tries to defend its position in obesity care. (novonordisk.com) OpenAI has been pushing deeper into regulated industries this year. In January 2026, it introduced OpenAI for Healthcare, describing secure products for healthcare organizations and custom clinical solutions with controls for protected health data. (openai.com) Novo Nordisk said the partnership includes strict data governance and human oversight, a key point for a drugmaker working in research, clinical development and commercial operations. (biospace.com) Chief executive Mike Doustdar said Novo Nordisk sees undiscovered therapies for people living with obesity and diabetes. The immediate test is whether the pilots turn into faster research, steadier production and fewer delays getting medicines to patients. (cnbc.com)