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


                                  July 21, 2008


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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 31 January 2008 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 of up to
DKK 2 billion in the period from 31 January 2008 to 6 August 2008.

Since the announcement as of 7 July 2008, the following transactions have been
made under the programme:
                                               AVERAGE        TRANSACTION
                           NUMBER OF    PURCHASE PRICE         VALUE, DKK
                              SHARES
ACCUMULATED, LAST          5,055,407                        1,622,371,474
ANNOUNCEMENT
7 July 2008                   50,000          301.8350         15,091,750
8 July 2008                   55,000          296.7250         16,319,875
9 July 2008                   45,000          306.6400         13,798,800
10 July 2008                  45,000          309.2850         13,917,825
11 July 2008                  45,000          302.9900         13,634,550
ACCUMULATED, 2008          5,295,407                        1,695,134,274

With the transactions stated above, Novo Nordisk owns a total of 16,998,930
treasury shares, corresponding to 2.7% 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 approximately 26,300 employees in
80 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

                                Hans Rommer
                                Tel: (+45) 4442 4765
                                hrmm@novonordisk.com

In North America:               In North America:
Sean Clements                   Christian Qvist Frandsen
Tel: (+1) 609 514 8316          Tel: (+1) 609 919 7937
secl@novonordisk.com            cqfr@novonordisk.com

Stock Exchange Announcement no 44 / 2008



                                   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: July 21, 2008                           NOVO NORDISK A/S
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                                            Lars Rebien Sorensen,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer