Novo Nordisk, the Danish leader in the pharmaceutical sector, has announced an extensive collaboration with OpenAI. The partnership aims to deploy artificial intelligence throughout the company’s value chain – from the early stages of research and development (R&D), through manufacturing processes to commercial operations and logistics. The decision comes at a time when the company is intensifying its efforts to regain its lead over US competitor Eli Lilly in the fast-growing market for weight-loss drugs.
According to the collaboration, OpenAI technologies will be used to analyse complex medical datasets and identify promising molecules. In the operational area, AI is expected to improve supply chain management and distribution of Wegova and Ozempic formulations, for which global demand continues to outstrip production capacity. While the pharmaceutical industry is already successfully using algorithms to automate regulatory filings or select clinical trial participants, the full use of AI to design new drugs remains a challenge that the technology has yet to fully realise.
Novo Nordisk’s strategy is to make artificial intelligence a tool to increase the productivity of its existing workforce, rather than a factor in downsizing. CEO Mike Doustdar stressed that the aim is to ‘supercharge’ the competencies of scientists, with the long-term aim of reducing the rate of new hires while increasing the scale of operations. This is a significant statement in the context of last year’s restructuring, which involved 9,000 posts.
Market analysts estimate that the obesity drug sector will be worth more than $100 billion over the next decade. Novo Nordisk, which launched an oral version of Wegova in January, is facing strong pressure from Eli Lilly, whose Foundayo pill recently received US approval.
Financial details of the agreement with OpenAI were not disclosed. The implementation timetable calls for pilot programmes to begin in key departments later this year, while full integration of the systems into global structures is expected by the end of 2026. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, indicated that the co-operation is not only aimed at business optimisation, but also at accelerating scientific discoveries that can realistically extend human life. All processes are to be carried out with strict protocols for data protection and human oversight.
