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


                               September 21, 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 7 August  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 2.4 billion in the period from 10 August 2009 to 18 December 2009.

Since the announcement as of 14 September 2009, the following  transactions have
been made under the programme:

                               NUMBER OF              AVERAGE      TRANSACTION
                                  SHARES       PURCHASE PRICE       VALUE, DKK
ACCUMULATED, LAST
ANNOUNCEMENT                   1,867,000                           590,150,026
14 September 2009                 75,000             322.1600       24,162,000
15 September 2009                 75,000             322.9950       24,224,625
16 September 2009                 75,000             328.9410       24,670,575
17 September 2009                 65,000             327.9100       21,314,150
18 September 2009                 75,000             326.3100       24,473,250
ACCUMULATED UNDER
THE PROGRAMME                  2,232,000                           708,994,626

With the  transactions  stated  above,  Novo Nordisk owns a total of  27,068,808
treasury shares, corresponding to 4.4% of the share capital. The total amount of
shares in the company is 620,000,000 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 27,900  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: (+45) 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 55 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: September 21, 2009                     NOVO NORDISK A/S
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                                            Lars Rebien Sorensen,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer