Novo Nordisk cuts jobs at U.S. plant

Novo Nordisk has cut dozens of jobs at its largest U.S. manufacturing site in Clayton, North Carolina, according to LinkedIn posts reviewed. The layoffs affected production-line staff, quality‑control technicians, logistics employees, project coordinators and administrative support — many of whom publicly posted that they are now seeking new roles in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors.

The Clayton plant is a central facility in Novo Nordisk’s global network, responsible for producing and packaging semaglutide, the active ingredient in its blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic. The site expanded rapidly to meet unprecedented global demand over the past few years. Company leaders say the recent reductions reflect a strategic shift under new CEO Mike Doustdar toward sharper cost control and simpler operations after rapid scale-up created structural inefficiencies.

These U.S. job cuts form part of a broader global restructuring announced last month that will eliminate roughly 9,000 positions worldwide — about 8% of Novo Nordisk’s workforce. The company says the measures are intended to reduce duplication, increase organizational focus and sustain long-term innovation as competition in the GLP‑1 therapy market intensifies, particularly from U.S. rival Eli Lilly.

Executives have framed the restructuring as aligning resources with core priorities while investing in automation, robotics and AI-driven quality systems to boost efficiency and scalability across manufacturing sites, including Clayton. Analysts say the moves underscore a transition away from labor-intensive production models that were scaled up during the Wegovy boom, toward more automated, digitally managed operations designed to reduce costs and improve resilience to supply‑chain pressures.

The restructuring follows a period in which Novo Nordisk’s market value surged as demand for its weight‑loss treatments soared, making it one of Europe’s most valuable listed companies. That momentum has since cooled: sales growth slowed and the company’s share price slid, prompting management to reassess cost structures and workforce levels that expanded during peak demand.

The cuts come against a backdrop of U.S. policy pressure on pharmaceutical companies to expand domestic manufacturing and create American jobs. Novo Nordisk reiterated that production of Wegovy and Ozempic remains a strategic priority and said it is continuing investments in new capacity, including facilities under construction in France, Denmark and New Jersey, aimed at supporting future demand while improving operational efficiency.