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 21, 2008


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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-_____________________



TRANSACTION IN OWN SHARES

NOVO NORDISK A/S - SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAMME

On 15 August 2008 Novo Nordisk initiated its share repurchase programme in
accordance with the provisions of the European Commission's regulation no
2273/2003 of 22 December 2003, also referred to as the Safe Harbour rules.

Under the programme Novo Nordisk will repurchase B shares for an amount of up to
DKK 1.7 billion in the period from 15 August 2008 to 19 December 2008.

Since the announcement as of 13 October 2008, the following transactions have
been made under the programme:



                             NUMBER            AVERAGE     TRANSACTION
                          OF SHARES     PURCHASE PRICE      VALUE, DKK
                                                          
ACCUMULATED,
LAST ANNOUNCEMENT         2,273,500                        638,246,694
13 October 2008              50,000           267.8800      13,394,000
14 October 2008              65,000           279.4700      18,165,550
15 October 2008             100,000           274.9900      27,499,000
16 October 2008              50,000           262.6900      13,134,500
17 October 2008              50,000           275.3200      13,766,000
ACCUMULATED UNDER
THE PROGRAMME             2,588,500                        724,205,744


With the transactions stated above, Novo Nordisk owns a total of 23,801,460
treasury shares, corresponding to 3.8% of the share capital. The total amount of
shares in the company is 634,000,000 including treasury shares.

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company and a world leader in diabetes care. 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 26,300 employees in
80 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.

Further information:
Media:                    Investors:


Mette Kruse Danielsen     Mads Veggerby Lausten
Tel: (+45) 4442 3883      Tel: (+45) 4443 7919
mkd@novonordisk.com       mlau@novonordisk.com

                          Hans Rommer
                          Tel: (+45) 4442 4765
                          hrmm@novonordisk.com

In North America:
Sean Clements
Tel: (+1) 609 514 8316
secl@novonordisk.com

Company Announcement no 66 / 2008



                                   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 21, 2008                        NOVO NORDISK A/S
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                                            Lars Rebien Sorensen,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer