UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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                                    FORM 6-K

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                            REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER

                       Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
                     of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                                 OCTOBER 4 2005


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                                NOVO NORDISK A/S
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    NOVO ALLE
                               DK-2880, BAGSVAERD
                                     DENMARK
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F

                       Form 20-F [X]     Form 40-F [ ]


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                             Yes [ ]     No [X]


If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in
connection with Rule 12g-32(b):82-_____________________



TREASURY STOCK

STATUS RE NOVO NORDISK'S HOLDING OF ITS OWN SHARES (30 SEPTEMBER 2005)

In continuation of the company's announcements dated 30 April 2004 and 28 April
2005 concerning a planned share repurchase programme, and pursuant to Section
204.33 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual, this is to report
that Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE: NVO) and its wholly-owned affiliates on 30
September 2005 owned 30,970,354 of its own B shares of DKK 2, corresponding to a
total nominal value of DKK 61,940,708 or 8.73% of the total share capital.

In the third quarter of 2005 a total of 3,174,000 B shares were repurchased by
Novo Nordisk A/S, and 141,053 B shares were disposed of to employees who
exercised options granted by Novo Nordisk.

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. The
company has the broadest diabetes product portfolio in the industry, including
the most advanced products within the area of insulin delivery systems. In
addition, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as haemostasis
management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Novo Nordisk
manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services that make a
significant difference to patients, the medical profession and society. With
headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 21,200 full-time
employees in 78 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo
Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London.
Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For
more information, visit novonordisk.com.
For further information please contact:

Media:                                           Investors:

Outside North America:                           Outside North America:
Elin K Hansen                                    Mogens Thorsager Jensen
Tel:                                             Tel:
(+45) 4442 3450                                  (+45) 4442 7945

                                                 Christian Qvist Frandsen
                                                 Tel:
                                                 (+45) 4443 5182

In North America:                                In North America:
Susan T Jackson                                  Mads Veggerby Lausten
Tel:                                             Tel:
(+1) 609 919 7776                                (+45) 4443 7919



Stock Exchange Announcement No 23 / 2005



                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf of the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Date: OCTOBER 4 2005                          NOVO NORDISK A/S
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                                            Lars Rebien Sorensen,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer