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

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                                    FORM 6-K

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                            REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER

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


                                  March 3, 2009


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


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

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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 29 January 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 3.0 billion in the period from 29 January 2009 to 5 August 2009.

Since the announcement as of 23 February 2009, the following transactions have
been made under the programme:

                                        AVERAGE PURCHASE            TRANSACTION
                     NUMBER OF SHARES              PRICE             VALUE, DKK
ACCUMULATED, LAST
ANNOUNCEMENT                1,273,000                               389,599,260
23 February 2009               75,000             302.55             22,691,250
24 February 2009               75,000             300.67             22,550,250
25 February 2009               75,000             296.36             22,227,000
26 February 2009               75,000             298.27             22,370,250
27 February 2009               87,000             287.22             24,988,140
ACCUMULATED UNDER
THE PROGRAMME               1,660,000                               504,426,150

With the transactions stated above, Novo Nordisk owns a total of 26,464,435
treasury shares, corresponding to 4.2% of the share capital. The total amount of
shares in the company is 634,000,000 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 27,000 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: 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. 12 / 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: March 3, 2009                          NOVO NORDISK A/S
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                                            Lars Rebien Sorensen,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer