Novo Nordisk taps OpenAI

Novo Nordisk said Tuesday it is partnering with OpenAI to use artificial intelligence across drug discovery, manufacturing and commercial operations. (reuters.com) The Danish drugmaker said the rollout starts with a pilot program in research and development, manufacturing and commercial teams, with full integration targeted by the end of 2026. Novo said the system will be used globally and paired with workforce training in artificial intelligence. (pharmaceutical-technology.com) Novo said the tools will help employees analyze large scientific and operational datasets, identify possible drug candidates and shorten the path from lab research to patient use. The company also said the partnership includes strict data governance and human oversight. (cnbc.com, biospace.com) Drug discovery starts with sorting through huge volumes of biology, chemistry and clinical data to find molecules worth testing, and companies increasingly use artificial intelligence as a pattern-finding tool to narrow that search. Novo’s deal extends that approach beyond the lab into factories, supply chains and sales operations. (cnbc.com, pharmaceutical-technology.com) The timing is sensitive for Novo Nordisk because Eli Lilly has gained ground in the obesity market that Novo helped define with Wegovy and Ozempic. Reuters reported that Novo has fallen behind Lilly in the weight-loss market, and CNBC reported in February that Novo was bracing for a 2026 sales decline while Lilly projected another revenue increase. (reuters.com, cnbc.com) The announcement also lands under a new chief executive. Novo appointed Maziar Mike Doustdar as president and chief executive officer on July 29, 2025, with the change taking effect on August 7, 2025. (nasdaq.com) Novo is not starting from zero on artificial intelligence. In 2025, Nvidia said it was working with Novo Nordisk and the Danish Centre for AI Innovation to build custom models and agents for early research and clinical development using Denmark’s Gefion sovereign artificial intelligence supercomputer. (nvidia.com) OpenAI is pitching this deal as an operating model, not a single research project. Novo said the partnership is meant to help employees “move faster” across the business, from discovering medicines to delivering them, as it tries to speed decisions in a market that has gotten more crowded and more price-sensitive. (biospace.com, cnbc.com)