Novo Nordisk has secured a buyer for cell therapy technologies it set aside as part of its pullback from that treatment approach. Aspect Biosystems will take ownership of the assets, while Novo retains an option to reenter at a later stage for development and commercialization.
The Danish drugmaker originally teamed up with Aspect in 2023. At the height of enthusiasm around its GLP-1 portfolio, Novo paid $75 million upfront and pledged over $2.5 billion in milestone payments to collaborate on bioprinted tissue-based therapies targeting diabetes and obesity.
Momentum later slowed for Novo’s blockbuster drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. Following the shift, newly appointed CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar moved to scale back several investments the company had made during the industry’s boom period.
The firm halted all cell therapy efforts in October, including a program focused on Type 1 diabetes, and also withdrew from its partnership with Heartseed around the same period. Novo’s withdrawal from the modality opened the door for Aspect, which has taken over rights to Novo’s stem-cell-derived islet cell technologies as well as its hypoimmune cell engineering platform.
Novo is continuing to support the advancement of these assets by investing in Aspect and supplying research funding. Under the agreement, Novo stands to benefit financially if the programs succeed, with eligibility for future milestone payments and royalties tied to product sales. While Aspect will lead development in the near term, Novo retains the option to increase its involvement during later-stage development and commercialization.
Under the terms of the deal, Aspect will add selected cell therapy research, development and manufacturing know-how from Novo, incorporating those capabilities into its own operations. This process includes transferring technical expertise and infrastructure from Novo facilities in Denmark and the United States to Aspect’s base in Canada.
Aspect said the transition will enhance its overall development capabilities while broadening its access to specialized talent. Danish outlet Børsen reported last year that Novo planned to cut roughly 250 jobs as part of shutting down its cell therapy unit. At that time, the firm said it was actively seeking partners with the appropriate expertise and manufacturing capacity to advance the technologies further.
The agreement with Aspect ensures continuity for Novo Nordisk’s diabetes-focused cell therapy research. Its scope also included programs targeting Parkinson’s disease and chronic heart failure. Novo, which has sharpened its strategic focus on diabetes and obesity under Chief Executive Officer Maziar Mike Doustdar, has not yet disclosed whether those additional programs will be transferred to other partners.
The broadened collaboration with Aspect Biosystems signals Novo Nordisk’s ambition to establish a second growth engine in cell-based, potentially disease-modifying diabetes therapies in addition to its GLP-1 business. For a company already drawing intense attention for its GLP-1 tablets and injectables, the strategy reinforces the view that Novo is positioning itself not just as a weight-loss and diabetes drugmaker, but as a firm with strength in the cell therapy space as well.
Novo Nordisk Deepens Cell Therapy Collaboration
Novo Nordisk has advanced its strategic cell therapy partnership with Aspect, strengthening efforts to develop next-generation cellular medicines. The move highlights Novo Nordisk’s long-term commitment to innovative therapies for serious chronic conditions.
Aspect Platform Supports Novo Nordisk Programs
The collaboration leverages Aspect’s advanced cell engineering platform to support Novo Nordisk in creating scalable and functional cell therapies. By combining proprietary technologies, Novo Nordisk aims to accelerate development timelines and improve therapeutic outcomes.
Novo Nordisk Focuses on Future Innovation
Through this expanded partnership, Novo Nordisk continues to invest in cutting-edge biotechnology, positioning cell therapy as a key pillar of its future research and development strategy.
