Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical giant best known for its diabetes and weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, is set to lay off up to 150 employees in India as part of a global restructuring effort. The layoffs will primarily affect junior- to mid-level positions across various functions, including sales, marketing, and the Global Business Services (GBS) division which supports drug development.
This decision is part of a larger plan, announced in September 2025, to reduce the company's global workforce by approximately 9,000 positions, representing about 11% of its total employees. The restructuring aims to streamline operations, accelerate decision-making, and redirect resources towards its core growth areas of diabetes and obesity care. Novo Nordisk anticipates that these measures will generate annual savings of $1.25 billion by the end of 2026. However, the company also expects to incur $1.25 billion in one-off restructuring costs.
The Bengaluru-based GBS hub in India, which employs over 4,500 people, plays a critical role in Novo Nordisk's global operations. It partners with global teams across the pharmaceutical value chain, supporting drug development, data management, biostatistics, medical writing, safety surveillance, and medical communications for clinical trials and marketed products. The India team has been closely involved with the company's flagship Ozempic program, contributing to clinical trials, data management, and pharmacovigilance. In fact, approximately 49% of Novo Nordisk's global safety assessments are conducted out of the Bengaluru hub.
Despite the layoffs, Novo Nordisk has been expanding its operations in India. In July 2025, the company announced a major expansion of its GBS hub in Bengaluru, increasing its workforce from 2,500 to over 4,500 employees. The company also revealed plans to hire an additional 200-300 professionals in areas such as AI, clinical research, regulatory affairs, and global operations. This expansion is part of Novo Nordisk's strategy to position India as a global operational and innovation hub, leveraging its talent pool and digital maturity. The company has also launched its anti-obesity drug Wegovy in India, marking a significant step in expanding its footprint in the chronic disease segment.
Novo Nordisk's decision to implement these layoffs reflects a broader trend in the pharmaceutical industry, where companies are seeking to enhance efficiency and focus on strategic priorities. Other major companies, including Bayer, Merck, Moderna, and Pfizer, have also announced workforce reductions in 2025.
The restructuring comes as Novo Nordisk faces increasing competition in the obesity market and slower sales growth, particularly in the United States. The company's CEO, Mike Doustdar, stated that the company must evolve to meet these challenges by instilling a performance-based culture, deploying resources effectively, and prioritizing investments in its leading therapy areas.
The news of the layoffs has caused some concern among investors, with Novo Nordisk's shares falling 2.2% following the announcement. The speed and lack of negotiation surrounding the layoffs have also led to increased tensions between employees and management, with unions reporting a surge in support requests from affected staff. Novo Nordisk's spokesperson stated that the company's priority is to support its employees during this transition.
