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


                                 APRIL 21, 2009


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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 29 January 2009 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 up to
DKK 3.0 billion in the period from 29 January 2009 to 5 August 2009.

Since the announcement as of 6 April 2009, the following transactions have been
made under the programme:



                            NUMBER OF           AVERAGE      TRANSACTION
                               SHARES    PURCHASE PRICE       VALUE, DKK
                                                            
ACCUMULATED, LAST
ANNOUNCEMENT                3,832,041                      1,081,993,735
6 April 2009                   75,000            247.67       18,575,250
7 April 2009                   76,700            251.47       19,287,749
8 April 2009                   76,700            246.84       18,932,628
14 April 2009                  81,700            238.14       19,456,038
15 April 2009                 110,000            237.61       26,137,100
16 April 2009                  77,000            243.53       18,751,425
17 April 2009                  76,000            252.41       19,183,160
ACCUMULATED UNDER           4,405,141                      1,222,317,085
THE PROGRAMME


With the transactions stated above, Novo Nordisk owns a total of 29,257,523
treasury shares, corresponding to 4.6% 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 more than 27,000 employees in 81
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:

Outside North America:      Outside North America:
Elin K Hansen               Mads Veggerby Lausten
Tel: (+45) 4442 3450        Tel: (+45) 4443 7919
ekh@novonordisk.com         mlau@novonordisk.com
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                            Kasper Roseeuw Poulsen
                            Tel: 4442 4471
                            krop@novonordisk.com

In North America:           In North America:
Sean Clements               Hans Rommer
Tel: (+1) 609 514 8316      Tel: (+1) 609 919 7937
secl@novonordisk.com        hrmm@novonordisk.com
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Company Announcement no 22 / 2009



                                   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: April 21, 2009                          NOVO NORDISK A/S
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                                            Lars Rebien Sorensen,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer