The Novo Nordisk OpenAI partnership marks a major push by the Danish drugmaker to expand the use of artificial intelligence across its business, from drug discovery to manufacturing and commercial operations. Novo Nordisk said the collaboration will help it analyse complex datasets, identify promising drug candidates and improve efficiency across supply chains, distribution and corporate functions.
The company, which makes Wegovy and Ozempic, is seeking ways to regain momentum in the fast-growing weight-loss drug market amid intensifying competition from Eli Lilly. Pilot programmes will begin in research and development, manufacturing and commercial operations, with full integration planned by the end of 2026.
Novo Nordisk said it will use OpenAI’s technology to support both scientific and operational work. The company wants AI to help researchers identify new drug candidates while also making manufacturing, distribution and internal processes more efficient.
Drugmakers are increasingly using AI to handle time-consuming parts of development, such as selecting clinical trial sites, finding participants and preparing regulatory filings. However, industry executives still say AI has not fully delivered on the tougher task of discovering major new molecules.
AI Rollout Will Focus on Training, Not Replacing Staff
Novo Nordisk said OpenAI will also help train its global workforce, improve AI literacy and raise productivity across departments. CEO Mike Doustdar said the partnership is not designed to replace scientists, but to “supercharge” them.
Doustdar also said the company does not plan to use the deal to cut its current workforce. Instead, he said AI should help employees work faster and more effectively, which could reduce the pace of future hiring. Doustdar announced a restructuring that cut 9,000 jobs shortly after taking over as CEO last year.
The partnership comes as Novo tries to keep pace in the obesity-drug market, where competition with Eli Lilly has become more intense. Lilly won US approval this month for its weight-loss pill Foundayo after Novo launched oral Wegovy in January. Analysts also expect annual revenue from weight-loss drugs to exceed $100 billion over the next decade.
Novo said the agreement includes strict data protection, governance and human oversight. The company also described the OpenAI partnership as an extension of its existing AI work with other technology partners and research organisations.
