PRINCETON, N.J., Dec. 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Novo Nordisk affirms its commitment to protecting its intellectual property following today's denial of its motion for a preliminary injunction to prohibit Pfizer from marketing its inhaled insulin product Exubera(R) in the US. The court stated that issues of infringement and validity "will be best served through closer inspection at trial." Novo Nordisk does not therefore regard the ruling as impairing the strength of our underlying case, and also notes that the ruling involves only one of the five patents at issue in the case.

Novo Nordisk remains confident in the strength of our patents and looks forward to a full trial on the merits of the infringement case against Pfizer. We continue to believe that our commitment to changing diabetes, innovation, and to helping people with diabetes depends upon respect for patents.

In August 2006, Novo Nordisk filed a lawsuit against Pfizer claiming that Exubera infringes patents owned by Novo Nordisk. The patents cover inhaled insulin treatment for diabetes. No trial date has yet been set.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company with an 80-year history of innovation and achievement in diabetes care. In addition to diabetes care, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as hemostasis management, growth hormone therapy, and hormone therapy for women. Novo Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a commitment to economic success, environmental soundness, and social responsibility to employees and customers. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 22,000 full- time employees in 79 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 global information, visit novonordisk.com; for United States information, visit novonordisk-us.com.

SOURCE Novo Nordisk