The Novo Nordisk Prize is an annual award presented to acknowledge exceptional contributions within the fields of medical and health sciences. It is specifically aimed at individuals who have demonstrated outstanding research or innovation that has the potential to advance medical science, particularly in areas related to diabetes, endocrinology, and biopharmaceutical science. The prize is administered by the Novo Nordisk Foundation,https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2026/mar/ucl-clinical-researcher-receives-prestigious-international-prize an independent Danish enterprise foundation.
Background Established by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the prize reflects the Foundation's commitment to support health, scientific, and humanitarian efforts through research. The Foundation holds a controlling interest in the Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk.
History of the Novo Nordisk Prize The prize, originally DKK 50,000 (approx $7,200), was first awarded on 16 February 1963. Since then, the amount awarded has gradually increased. The prize was called the Novo Prize from 1963 until 1989, when it was renamed the Novo Nordisk Prize. Until 2020 the Prize was given for a Danish contribution. In 2020, it has been decided to change the geographical scope of the prize and from 2021 the prize is awarded for a European contribution.
Award The Novo Nordisk Prize includes a monetary award, the amount of which can vary from year to year. Alongside the financial component, recipients are also awarded a medal and a diploma in recognition of their contributions. The prize is designed not only to honour exceptional scientific work but also to support the continued research efforts of the recipients.
Recipients of the prize +Award recipientsYearRecipient(s)2026Francesco Muntonihttps://nordiclifescience.org/francesco-muntoni-receives-the-2026-novo-nordisk-prizehttps://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/news/francesco-muntoni-prestigious-novo-nordisk-prize2025Jean-Laurent Casanovahttps://sciencenews.dk/da/profil/jean-laurent-casanova2024David Klenerman and Shankar Balasubramanianhttps://www.cruk.cam.ac.uk/news/novo-nordisk-prize-2024-honours-pioneers-of-genome-sequencing2023Molly Stevens2022Uğur Şahin, Drew Weissman, Özlem Türeci and Katalin Karikó2021Marco Prinz2020Merete Nordentoft and Preben Bo Mortensenhttps://sciencenews.dk/en/searching-for-patterns-that-can-save-lives2019Hans Bisgaardhttps://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)02131-6/fulltexthttps://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(22)02554-4/fulltext2018Jørgen Kjemshttps://international.au.dk/currently/news/preview/artikel/professor-joergen-kjems-receives-the-novo-nordisk-prize-20182017Poul Nissenhttps://newsroom.au.dk/nyheder/vis/artikel/professor-poul-nissen-receives-the-2017-novo-nordisk-prize-12016Christian Torp-Pedersen2015Jens Bukh2014Søren Molin2013Søren K. Moestrup2012Erik A. Richter2011Peter Lawætz Andersen2010Henrik Clausen2009Søren Nielsen2008Kristian Helin2007Marja Jäättelä2006Henning Beck-Nielsen2005Mads Melbye2004Peter Roepstorff and Matthias Mann2003Jiri Bartek and Jiri Lukas2002Jørgen Gliemann2001Thue W. Schwartz2000Peter Aaby1999Bengt Saltin1998Michael J. Mulvany and Christian Aalkjær1997Peter E. Nielsen1996Henrik Kehlet1995Niels Borregaard1994Hans Jørgen G. Gundersen1993Niels E. Skakkebæk1992Jan Fahrenkrug and Jens Juul Holst1991Peter Leth Jørgensen and Arvid Maunsbach1990Morten Simonsen1989Ove B. Norén and Hans G. Sjøstrøm1988Gunnar Bendixen1987Hans H. Ussing1986Hans Henrik Holm1985Hans Klenow1984Staffan Magnusson1983Christian Crone1982Jens F. Rehfeld1981Flemming Kissmeyer-Nielsen and Arne Svejgaard1980Bent Friis-Hansen1979Gerhard Salomon1978Margareta Mikkelsen and Villy Posborg Petersen1977Erik Amdrup1976Niels Tygstrup1975Georg Mandahl-Barth1974Michael Schwartz1973K.A. Marcker1972J.Chr. Siim1971Mogens Schou1970Poul Astrup1969Erik Zeuthen1968Niels A. Lassen1967Knud Lundbæk1966Jørn Hess Thaysen1965Jens Christian Skou1964Claus Brun1963Erik Warburg
References
External links Official website