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


                                 August 11, 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 A/S, as part of the overall share repurchase
programme for the period 2006-2009, initiated a 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 A/S has repurchased B shares for an amount of
DKK 3.0 billion in the period from 29 January 2009 to 5 August 2009.
Consequently, the programme has been concluded on 5 August 2009. Since the
announcement as of 3 August 2009, the following transactions have been made
under the programme:

                            NUMBER OF     AVERAGE PURCHASE    TRANSACTION VALUE,
                               SHARES                PRICE                   DKK
ACCUMULATED, LAST
ANNOUNCEMENT               10,439,882                              2,928,714,334
3 August 2009                  77,400            306.9000             23,754,060
4 August 2009                  77,900            304.9700             23,757,163
5 August 2009                  75,000            313.6500             23,523,750
ACCUMULATED UNDER THE
PROGRAMME                  10,670,182                              2,999,749,307

Transactions related to Novo Nordisk's incentive programmes have resulted in a
net sale by Novo Nordisk of 63,600 B shares in the period from 3 August 2009 to
6 August 2009. 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 21,398,641 treasury shares, corresponding to 3.5% of the share
capital. The total amount of shares in the company is 620,000,000 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 27,900 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

                                         Kasper Roseeuw Poulsen
                                         Tel: (+45) 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

Company Announcement no 47 / 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: August 11, 2009                          NOVO NORDISK A/S
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                                            Lars Rebien Sorensen,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer