Partnership evolution includes strategic integration of select Novo Nordisk technologies into Aspect BiosystemsAspect will lead development, manufacturing and commercialisation, and Novo Nordisk will have defined rights to expand its role at a later stage Aspect will integrate select manufacturing and R&D capabilities and expertise from the US and Denmark into its Canada-anchored platform
Bagsværd, Denmark and Vancouver, BC, Canada, 20 January 2026 – Novo Nordisk and Aspect Biosystems today announced they are entering a new phase of their partnership to develop advanced cellular medicines for diabetes.
Since 2023, Aspect and Novo Nordisk have collaborated to develop cellular medicines designed to replace, repair or supplement biological functions to deliver truly disease-modifying therapies. This new phase of the partnership builds on the momentum achieved in the existing collaboration. It reflects a shared mission to accelerate the development of potentially curative medicines for serious diseases.
Aspect has acquired rights to stem cell-derived islet cell and hypoimmune cell engineering technologies from Novo Nordisk and will lead development, manufacturing and commercialisation. Novo Nordisk will have defined rights to expand its role in later-stage development and commercialisation.
Novo Nordisk will make an additional equity investment in Aspect and provide research funding to advance these potentially curative therapies. Novo Nordisk will be eligible to receive royalties and milestone payments on future product sales from Aspect.
“Novo Nordisk was founded on a commitment to improve the lives of people living with diabetes. That commitment is as strong now as it was 100 years ago, and we have a continued focus on bringing innovation to people living with type 1 diabetes through internal and external innovation efforts,” said Jacob Sten Petersen, senior vice president, Global Research, Novo Nordisk. “Aspect brings tremendous expertise and capabilities in cellular medicines, and we are proud of our partnership with them to progress transformative
