Stem cell research
Stem cell research has raised hopes of future treatment with cell transplantation that can be offered to people with many different serious chronic diseases caused by degeneration of defined cell types, such as in the case of diabetes and Parkinson's disease. At the same time, research into human embryonic stem cells has evoked an important ethical debate based on culturally founded objections to certain types of research. Novo Nordisk pursues human stem cell research as part of Novo Nordisk’s vision to find a cure for diabetes. In doing so, Novo Nordisk takes ethical considerations into account. Read the Novo Nordisk position on stem cells.
Performance 2007
In 2007 Novo Nordisk continued to be at the forefront of stem cell research through the Hagedorn Research Institute, an independent basic research component of Novo Nordisk in which the company is currently investing more than 17 million Danish kroner in developmental biology and stem cell research.
The stem cell research of the Institute was presented to the public at its 50th anniversary open house celebration on 5 November 2007. This included lectures, a documentary film, posters and laboratory tours.
Hagedorn is a major industrial partner in two cutting-edge research efforts: Beta Cell Biology Consortium (BCBC), supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) Center for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes in Europe, which is funded by the EU.
In 2007 the JDRF Centre for Beta Cell Therapy in Diabetes reached its milestones to release the third year’s instalment of a five-year 11.8 million Euro grant for research in which Hagedorn leads the work of nine laboratories across Europe to further study the potential of embryonic stem cells to become mature functioning beta cells in vitro. Also in 2007 Hagedorn reached its milestones to release the third year’s instalment of a prestigious four-year 4.3 million US dollar grant from NIH to coordinate a predominantly European research effort in developmental biology of the beta cell within the BCBC (Beta Cell Biology Consortium).
Novo Nordisk’s approach
Novo Nordisk’s scientists aim to find a cure for diabetes, and in doing so, Novo Nordisk will need to extend Novo Nordisk’s research to include human embryonic stem cells. It will allow us to position Novo Nordisk in the forefront of future cell-therapy of diabetes.
Research in human embryonic stem cells has evoked an important ethical debate because the embryos from which the stem cells are derived hold the potential for a human life. Furthermore, large differences exist between countries with regards to the legislation and control of research on human embryonic stem cells.
Novo Nordisk acknowledges and respects that new research areas involving ethical dilemmas need to be thoroughly discussed in society. Novo Nordisk would like to contribute to an open dialogue and an ethical and political clarification regarding the use of human embryonic stem cells. Read more about stem cells here.
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