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


                                November 18, 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 15 August 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 1.7 billion in the period from 15 August 2008 to 19 December 2008.


Since the announcement as of 10 November 2008, the following  transactions  have
been made under the programme:

                                    NUMBER OF           AVERAGE     TRANSACTION
                                       SHARES    PURCHASE PRICE      VALUE, DKK
ACCUMULATED, LAST
ANNOUNCEMENT                        3,376,500                        956,623,504
10 November 2008                       50,000          307.8600       15,393,000
11 November 2008                       50,000          304.0800       15,204,000
12 November 2008                       50,000          305.3800       15,269,000
13 November 2008                       50,000          297.9500       14,897,500
14 November 2008                       50,000          297.2600       14,863,000
ACCUMULATED UNDER
THE PROGRAMME                       3,626,500                      1,032,250,004

Transactions  related to Novo Nordisk's incentive  programmes have resulted in a
net sale by Novo Nordisk of 83,305  B-shares in the period from 10 November 2008
to 14 November 2008. The shares in these  transactions were not part of the Safe
Harbour repurchase programme.

With the  transactions  stated  above,  Novo Nordisk owns a total of  24,593,285
treasury shares, corresponding to 3.9% 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 26,550 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:


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:           Kasper Roseeuw Poulsen
Sean Clements               Tel: (+45) 4442 4471
Tel: (+1) 609 514 8316      krop@novonordisk.com
secl@novonordisk.com

Company Announcement no 75 / 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: November 18, 2008                        NOVO NORDISK A/S
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                                            Lars Rebien Sorensen,
                                     President and Chief Executive Officer