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

                                  ------------

                                    FORM 6-K

                                  ------------

                            REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER

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


                                 August 24, 2009


                                  ------------

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


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

                                  ------------

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 7 August 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 2.4 billion in the period from 10 August 2009 to 18 December 2009.

Since the announcement as of 17 August 2009, the following transactions have
been made under the programme:

                                                      AVERAGE        TRANSACTION
                           NUMBER OF SHARES    PURCHASE PRICE         VALUE, DKK
ACCUMULATED, LAST
ANNOUNCEMENT                        375,000                         116,994,750
17 August 2009                       75,000          317.1800        23,788,500
18 August 2009                       75,000          313.8000        23,535,000
19 August 2009                       75,000          310.9590        23,321,925
20 August 2009                       75,000          314.7100        23,603,250
21 August 2009                       75,000          317.6400        23,823,000
ACCUMULATED UNDER THE
PROGRAMME                           750,000                         235,066,425

Transactions related to Novo Nordisk's incentive programmes have resulted in a
net sale by Novo Nordisk of 41,650 B shares in the period from 17 August 2009 to
21 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 25,586,808
treasury shares, corresponding to 4.1% 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 51 / 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 24, 2009                         NOVO NORDISK A/S
                             ---------------------------------------------------
                                            Lars Rebien Sorensen,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer