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


                                12 November, 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 3 November 2008, the following transactions have
been made under the programme:

                                      NUMBER OF           AVERAGE    TRANSACTION
                                         SHARES    PURCHASE PRICE     VALUE, DKK
ACCUMULATED, LAST ANNOUNCEMENT        3,088,500                      866,659,744
3 November 2008                          58,000          307.0700     17,810,060
4 November 2008                          50,000          321.4400     16,072,000
5 November 2008                          80,000          316.0400     25,283,200
6 November 2008                          50,000          310.3600     15,518,000
7 November 2008                          50,000          305.6100     15,280,500
ACCUMULATED UNDER THE PROGRAMME       3,376,500                      956,623,504

Transactions related to Novo Nordisk's incentive programmes have resulted in a
net sale by Novo Nordisk of 93,950 B-shares in the period from 3 November 2008
to 7 November 2008. The shares in these transactions were not part of the Safe
Harbour repurchase programme.

With the transactions stated above, Novo Nordisk owns a total of 24,426,590
treasury shares, corresponding to 3.9% 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 26,550 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:

Elin K Hansen                           Mads Veggerby Lausten
Tel: (+45) 4442 3450                    Tel: (+45) 4443 7919
ekh@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 74/2008



                                   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: 12 November, 2008                       NOVO NORDISK A/S
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                                            Lars Rebien Sorensen,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer