We must stay alert and seek to reconcile the inevitable dilemmas that arise as technology offers new opportunities in research and development and as societal attitudes and norms change.
Bioethics is the term we use for all ethical issues related to the use of life science technologies for the discovery, development and production of pharmaceutical products.
Recognising and understanding the ethical implications of our business is an ongoing process. Bioethical considerations are a natural part of our decision-making processes and we have learnt from engagements with stakeholders.
This approach has enabled us to raise ethical standards, frame the Novo Nordisk Bioethics Policy and positions, and to develop guidelines and working procedures.
Discovering, developing and delivering
For more than 100 years, we have been translating the unmet medical needs of people living with a serious chronic disease into innovative medicines and delivery systems, like our insulin pens.
Our treatments today are benefiting millions of people living with diabetes, obesity, and rare blood and endocrine diseases.
From our labs to our factory floors, we are discovering and developing innovative biological medicines and making them accessible to patients throughout the world.
- Continuously improve our performance
- Promote bioethical awareness in Novo Nordisk
- Operate by high ethical global standards in research involving people, animals, human materials and gene technology
- Require adherence to high ethical standards by our external partners, contract research organisations and suppliers, and monitor their performance
- Engage in stakeholder dialogue and partnerships helping us to deal with ethical dilemmas
- Act in accordance with international conventions
As a pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk faces a number of complex bioethical issues which we take very seriously. Novo Nordisk bioethics is governed in the top of our organisation by Executive Management from Research and Development.
We address bioethical issues across the company via integration in standard procedures, processes and decision-making and we have a virtual cross-functional team that drives and proactively addresses arising bioethical dilemmas.
One of the ways Novo Nordisk is committed to sustainability in practice is to have a dedicated and systematic approach to drive and proactively address emerging bioethical dilemmas related to research and development. Internal, a network of researchers and managers prepares and suggests new initiatives, develops and implements new positions and guidelines, and supervises the company's handling of evolving bioethical issues worldwide.
Novo Nordisk cooperates with institutions and authorities on guidelines for research, animal experimentation and environmental issues. Furthermore, we contribute to the scientific community by publishing research results and by sharing best practices.
An example is the Novo Nordisk's state-of-the-art housing conditions for laboratory animals shared amongst others at the webpages of The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, NC3R, and RSPCA “implementing the 3Rs”.
We also collaborate with external partners to improve the understanding of bioethical dilemmas. In a rewarding partnership with University of Copenhagen, UNESCO, LRN and Responsible Business Solutions, we have developed two innovative, open source e-learning tools, designed to help navigate the uncharted waters and shores of dilemmas.
The e-learning tools target employees and managers in companies, as well as students and organisations worldwide. The tools are generic and applicable within business training, academic teaching, and inter-governmental organisations.
