Introduction

Novo Nordisk A/S, headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, is the world leader in diabetic care since its founding in 1923.  Novo Nordisk A/S established Novo Nordisk (China) R&D Center in Beijing in January 2002. It is the first R&D center established in China by international bio-pharmaceutical companies with the focus on biotech, and currently also one of two R&D units that Novo Nordisk has outside Denmark.

NNCR&D has advanced R&D facilities, world class research environment and creative talents from China and abroad. Currently, NNCR&D has three research departments: Molecular Biology, Protein Chemistry, and Cell Biology.  As an integrate part of Biotechnology at Novo Nordisk's Globe Discovery organization, NNCR&D takes part in various drug discovery projects, and conducts advanced research with the cutting edge biotech tools and methodologies. The center is strongly focused on research within therapeutic proteins, i.e. to develop new processes for the production of therapeutic proteins, as well as design, expression, purification and characterization of new therapeutic proteins and analytical antibodies using mammalian and microbial expression hosts.  Currently the center is undergoing a transition from a highly technology provider into a novel drug development driver.

In preparation for a better development, NNCR&D was registered as an independent company in April 2006, named “Beijing Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Science and Technology Co. Ltd. (NNST). 

Facility

NNCR&D is located in the Zhongguancun Life Science Park (ZGC LSP), approximately 30 km northwest of the Forbidden City.  NNCR&D occupies approximately 2600 m² in the Biotech Incubator Building of ZGC LSP.  It is equipped with the state-of-the-art biotech research equipments, has a nice layout of the laboratories, functional rooms, and office area.  It’s IT system is connected to the NN network for instant communications with the NN colleagues in Copenhagen or else where in the world.