
Novo Holdings A/S is a leading international life science investor and holding company. It was established in 2013 as a result of the demerger of the Novo Nordisk Foundation's investment activities.
Novo Holdings A/S is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. The company has a strong presence in the life science industry, with a focus on investing in and developing innovative companies and technologies.
One of the key aspects of Novo Holdings A/S is its investment strategy, which focuses on supporting the growth and development of life science companies. This includes investing in various stages of a company's lifecycle, from early-stage startups to established companies.
Novo Holdings A/S has a significant global presence, with investments and operations in multiple countries. The company's experienced team of professionals works closely with portfolio companies to help them achieve their goals and realize their potential.
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Investment Profile
Novo Holdings A/S has a diverse investment portfolio, with a significant focus on life sciences. In 2021, the life science investment portfolio made up 52% of the total portfolio, generating returns of approximately DKK 12 billion ($1.6 billion).
The company's most common sectors for investment are life sciences (38%) and diversified (13%). This is evident in their investments in companies such as Xellia Pharmaceuticals A/S and Sonion.
Novo Holdings A/S has invested in three US states and five different countries, demonstrating their global reach and commitment to life science investments. Their largest disclosed investment was in 2013, when they acquired Xellia Pharmaceuticals A/S for $700 million.
The company's most common type of exit is secondary buyout (100%), indicating their preference for long-term value creation through strategic partnerships. In 2021, they sold Unchained Labs to The Carlyle Group for $435 million, marking their largest disclosed exit.
Here's a breakdown of Novo Holdings A/S's most common investment sectors and types:
- Life sciences (38%): Novo Holdings A/S has invested in various life science companies, including Xellia Pharmaceuticals A/S and Unchained Labs.
- Diversified (13%): The company has also invested in diversified sectors, such as technology and healthcare.
- Secondary buyouts (100%): Novo Holdings A/S has exited its investments through secondary buyouts, indicating their focus on long-term value creation.
Financial Performance
Novo Holdings discloses its annual financial performance through a measure called "total income and investment returns". This figure combines income from the Novo Group companies with gains or losses on the company's investment portfolio.
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The portfolio return is reported separately as a percentage, which varies over time due to the earnings of the group's operating companies and global capital markets.
Here's a breakdown of Novo Holdings' total income and investment returns over the years:
It's worth noting that in 2025, Novo Holdings' annual revenue was $4.5 billion.
Industry and Research
Novo Holdings A/S has a strong focus on industrial Biosolutions, with a significant investment in biotechnology companies in 2021. They aim to make biotechnology a spearhead for the green transition by removing roadblocks and paving the way for promising biologic discoveries.
Novo Holdings added eight bioindustrial companies to its portfolio in 2021, investing approximately €98 million in the bioindustrial space. This includes companies supplying climate-neutral cement, biopesticides, and synthetic silk biopolymers.
Some key characteristics of Novo Holdings A/S include being a private limited liability company wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, and holding companies of Denmark.
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Focus on Industrial Biosolutions
Novo Holdings has made a significant push into industrial biosolutions, aiming to drive the green transition through biotechnology. They've announced an increased investment focus on biosolutions, with the goal of removing roadblocks and bringing promising biologic discoveries to market.
In 2021, Novo Holdings added 21 biotechnology companies to its portfolio, including 21st. BIO, which helps other biotechnology companies scale up production. This move demonstrates their commitment to supporting the growth of the biotechnology industry.
The diverse investments made by Novo Holdings include companies supplying climate-neutral cement, biopesticides, and synthetic silk biopolymers. These innovative products challenge current conventions and offer more sustainable alternatives.
Here's a breakdown of some key facts about Novo Holdings' investments in the bioindustrial space:
- Approx. €98 million ($97.35 million) invested in 2021
- 8 bioindustrial companies added to portfolio in 2021
- Companies based in Gentofte Municipality
- Holding companies of Denmark
- Investment companies of Denmark
- Danish companies established in 1999
Life Science Venture Investing (US & Europe)
Novo Holdings A/S is a world-leading life science investor with a focus on creating long-term value. It provides seed and venture capital to development-stage companies and takes significant ownership positions in growth and well-established companies.
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Novo Holdings A/S has a broad portfolio of diversified financial assets and is uniquely positioned to invest in and support life science companies from inception through commercialization. This is due to its evergreen funding structure, multiple investment strategies, and global reach.
Novo Ventures is one of several investment teams employed by Novo affiliates that supports the investment activities of Novo Holdings. It aims to facilitate the investment of approximately $500 million annually in private and public life science opportunities in the US, Europe, and Asia.
Since 2014, the Novo Ventures team has facilitated the investment of ~$1.9B USD in 106 companies, and successfully exited 68, through both IPOs and divestitures.
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Academic Research to Drug Discovery
Academic research has the potential to lead to groundbreaking discoveries in the field of drug development. The Center for the Development of Therapeutics (CDoT) at the Broad Institute is a prime example of this, as it translates biological insights into therapeutics.
CDoT is deeply embedded within the Broad Institute, allowing for seamless collaboration between researchers and drug discovery scientists. This close relationship enables the rapid translation of research findings into potential treatments.
CDoT's structure, capabilities, and leadership experience closely resemble those of a pharma or biotech company's drug discovery group. This similarity suggests that academic research can be just as effective as industry-driven research in driving innovation.
By leveraging the expertise of both researchers and drug discovery scientists, CDoT is able to accelerate the development of new treatments. This collaborative approach has the potential to lead to significant breakthroughs in the fight against diseases.
SIC Code Meaning
The SIC code, or Standard Industrial Classification code, is a way to categorize businesses by their industry or activity.
Novo Holdings, a Danish holding company, has SIC codes of 671, 6719, and 67.
SIC codes are used for various purposes, including tax classification and statistical analysis.
The SIC code 671 refers to holding companies, which are companies that own and control other businesses.
Businesses can have multiple SIC codes, depending on their activities and operations.
Understanding SIC codes can be helpful for researchers and industry professionals who need to analyze data or identify trends.
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Investments and Acquisitions
Novo Holdings A/S has a diverse investment portfolio, with a focus on life sciences and diversified sectors. The company's most common sectors for investment are life sciences (38%) and diversified (13%).
Novo Holdings A/S invests in various types of companies, including those that develop, manufacture, or sell medicine, new treatment methods, or medical or health-related equipment. The company has invested in three US states and five different countries.
Here are some of Novo Holdings A/S's notable investments:
- Xellia Pharmaceuticals A/S (acquired in 2013 for $700 million)
- Unchained Labs (sold in 2021 for $435 million)
- Catalent (acquired in 2024 for $16.5 billion)
Novo Holdings A/S has also invested in several Danish companies, including the Xellia Group, Sonion, and Chr. Hansen Holdings A/S. The company has a global reach, with investments in the US, Europe, and Asia.
Repair Impact Fund
The REPAIR Impact Fund was established in February 2018 with a total initial budget of $165 million to invest in companies working on antimicrobial resistance therapies.
It was commissioned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, which shows a commitment to addressing global healthcare challenges.
The fund is focused on discovering and early-stage development of therapies to combat antimicrobial resistance, a critical issue in modern medicine.
Novo Holdings, the parent company, aims to increase investments of this type in the coming years, as stated by CEO Kasim Kutay.
The REPAIR acronym stands for Replenishing and Enabling the Pipeline for Anti-Infective Resistance, highlighting the fund's mission to combat antimicrobial resistance.
This investment demonstrates a significant commitment to improving global healthcare, and it's exciting to see companies like Novo Holdings taking action.
Investments
Novo Holdings A/S has a diverse investment portfolio, with a focus on life sciences and other industries. The company's most common sectors for investment are life sciences (38%) and diversified (13%).
Novo Holdings A/S has invested in three US states and five different countries. Its largest disclosed investment was in 2013, when it acquired Xellia Pharmaceuticals A/S for $700 million.
The company's investment strategies include providing seed and venture capital to development-stage companies, as well as taking significant ownership positions in growth and well-established companies. Novo Holdings A/S has invested in companies that develop, manufacture or sell medicine, new treatment methods or medical or health-related equipment.
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Some of the notable investments made by Novo Holdings A/S include:
- Halodoc, an Asia-based company, in April 2021
- Xellia, a pharmaceutical company, in May 2013
- Sonion, a manufacturer of components for the hearing aid industry, in July 2014
- Convatec, a UK listed company, in March 2017
- Catalent, a contract drug manufacturer, in February 2024
Novo Holdings A/S has also made significant exits, including the sale of Unchained Labs to The Carlyle Group for $435 million in 2021.
Acquisitions by Geo
The United States is the top destination for acquisitions, with 7 deals accounting for 44% of the total. New Jersey is a major hub, with 2 deals making up 13% of the total.
The largest acquisition in the United States was in New Jersey, with a value of $16.5 billion. Pennsylvania had a single deal worth $462 million, while Florida, California, Utah, and New York each had one deal with unknown values.
Denmark is another prominent location, with 3 deals making up 19% of the total. The value of these deals was $700 million, which is 4% of the total value.
The United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada each had 2 deals, while Austria had 1 deal. The values of these deals were $616 million, $354 million, and unknown, respectively.
Here is a breakdown of the top 5 countries by number of deals:
Sale of KabaFusion Announced

KabaFusion, a leading U.S. provider of essential chronic and acute infusion therapies, has been sold by Novo Holdings, a leading healthcare investment firm.
The sale was announced on August 26, 2025, and was facilitated by a definitive agreement between the two companies.
KabaFusion was founded in 2010 by CEO Dr. Sohail Masood, a pioneer in patient-focused infusion therapies with over 30 years of clinical experience.
The company has since expanded its geographic footprint, enhanced its ambulatory infusion capabilities, and broadened its therapeutic offerings.
During its partnership with Novo Holdings, KabaFusion nearly doubled in size and expanded its national presence.
Novo Holdings Senior Partner Jonathan Levy praised the company's clinical leadership and patient-first approach, crediting the management team for their extraordinary work in executing the company's value creation plan.
The sale of KabaFusion marks a significant exit for Novo Holdings, which has been a key investor in the company since November 2022.
KabaFusion has found a new partner in Nautic Partners, and the company looks forward to continuing its mission of delivering excellent patient care.
The sale was facilitated by a team of advisors, including Houlihan Lokey, Goodwin Procter, and Linklaters.
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Corporate Information
Novo Holdings A/S has acquired 8 companies in the last 3 years, and also invested in 1 other. This demonstrates the firm's active involvement in the market.
The firm's most common sectors for investment are life science (44%) and information technology (13%). This suggests a focus on these areas.
In the last 3 years, Novo Holdings A/S has exited 1 company. The firm's most common exit type is trade sale (50%). This indicates a preference for selling its investments through trade sales.
Novo Holdings A/S's largest disclosed acquisition occurred in 2024 when it acquired Catalent for $16.5B. This is a significant investment in the life science sector.
Here are the transaction criteria for Novo Holdings A/S:
The firm's largest disclosed exit occurred in 2021 when it sold Unchained Labs for $435M.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Novo Nordisk the same as Novo Holdings?
No, Novo Nordisk and Novo Holdings are not the same. Novo Holdings is a separate entity responsible for managing the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, a major philanthropic organization.
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