Transforming care through purposeful action

The Star

06-05-2025

EVERY organisation has its own unique journey, shaped by vision, people and progress.
Novo Nordisk's journey in Malaysia began in 1992 with a modest setup and a vision to make a meaningful difference. As a Danish pharmaceutical company, Novo Nordisk has grown its local presence into a workforce of 159 employees and an expansive network of partnerships and initiatives focused on transforming chronic disease care.
Today, the company has invested nearly RM40mil locally in clinical research and patient access efforts, positioning itself not only as a pharmaceutical company, but as a responsible contributor and trusted partner to Malaysia's healthcare ecosystem.
The recent opening of its refurbished Malaysian office reflects this enduring commitment to addressing the burden of chronic diseases in the country.
Employees of Novo Nordisk Malaysia together with the Danish Ambassador to Malaysia Kirstine Vangkilde Berner (centre, in blue), Jay (back row, middle) and Novo Nordisk corporate vice president (Business Area South-East Asia) Anand Shetty, at the reopening of the company's office in Kuala Lumpur.
'We are opening the refurbished office to reinforce our commitment to managing chronic diseases in Malaysia,' said Novo Nordisk senior vice president for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region Jay Thyagarajan during an interview at Menara 1 Sentrum in Kuala Lumpur.
Novo Nordisk's mission is especially timely as Malaysia faces a growing public health challenge. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, 1 in 6 adults in Malaysia is living with diabetes and 2 in 5 of them are unaware of their condition. Furthermore, 2.5% of Malaysian adults live with four non-communicable diseases (NCDs): diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol.
In response, Novo Nordisk is strengthening its role in Malaysia through various patient-centric initiatives, strategic partnerships, digital innovation and community education — all aimed at improving early intervention, access to care and sustainable disease management.
'We've made the office a purpose-driven workplace where every employee walks in wanting to make a difference,' Jay shared. 'Our goal is to create an environment that truly enables that change. It's about fostering a more inclusive and purpose-driven culture.'
A key feature of the new office design is its openness. Private offices and hierarchical barriers have been removed. Now, everyone — from directors to general managers — shares the same collaborative space.
'Everybody sits out in the open, which encourages faster decision-making, closer collaboration and a sense of shared responsibility,' Jay explained.
This setup also plays a vital role in talent development.
'When you're confined to a room, you don't get to see everyone in action. But when you're working side by side with your colleagues, you witness their strengths firsthand. It helps us identify key talent and shape clear career growth opportunities.'
He added that this environment has contributed significantly to the company being recognised as one of the Best Places to Work in Malaysia for the past three years.
'We've been able to attract some of the best talent in the healthcare industry. The challenge is no longer about attracting talent — it's about continuously developing those employees and nurturing the career progression they are keen to pursue,' Jay noted.
'At Novo Nordisk, we have a strong global network that actively supports career progression. Many of our colleagues participate in global talent programmes, leadership exchanges and development courses across regions and countries. These initiatives open doors to more job opportunities for those committed to strengthening their performance."
Jay, who began his journey as a sales representative and has worked in over 10 countries throughout his 28-year career, is living proof of this commitment.
Innovative hub
A major pillar of Novo Nordisk Malaysia's innovation drive is its Clinical Development Centre (CDC), established in 2024. It is the only multi-country CDC in South-East Asia, supporting clinical research not just in Malaysia, but also in Singapore and Thailand.
'CDC Malaysia is not just a local hub — it's a regional engine for clinical innovation,' said Jay. 'We've conducted more than 24 clinical trials across diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and liver conditions in just the last five years. That's backed by an investment of nearly RM40mil and it's set to increase in the coming years.'
The CDC currently supports over 100 clinical trial sites, with 56 dedicated staff driving trials across multiple therapy areas, including Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (MASH).
CDC Malaysia signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Clinical Research Malaysia on May 9, last year to strengthen the strategic partnerships between both parties, in the presence of Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.
In 2024 alone, it contributed to 32 clinical trials, engaging more than 825 patients and earning the prestigious IO-CDC Award for 2nd Best Multi-Country CDC.
Beyond research, the CDC plays a transformative role in shaping Malaysia's clinical trial ecosystem — training investigators, building site capacity and accelerating patient access to innovative treatments.
Compassionate care
Another cornerstone of Novo Nordisk Malaysia's impact is its Changing Diabetes in Children (CDiC) programme, launched locally in 2023. This global initiative aims to ensure that no child with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is left untreated.
'Adults can often manage, but children with diabetes need a different kind of support – educational, medical and emotional. This is a holistic approach to create the right awareness for those children and their parents and to ensure they receive proper education to manage the disease.'
Among others, Jay explained that the programme involves capacity building for healthcare professionals, establishing and refurbishing diabetes resource centres in hospitals and maintaining a robust national T1D registry to improve outcomes through data-driven care.
Driven by local implementation partner Malaysia Endocrine and Metabolic Society (MEMS) with support from the Health Ministry, Higher Education Ministry and Novo Nordisk global partners, CDiC supports patients through the provision of glucose monitoring tools, alongside education and awareness initiatives to support children and their families.
'The goal is to treat at least 3,000 patients by 2028 and we are making good progress toward achieving that.'
'For us, enabling healthcare through digital tools is an ongoing effort,' said Jay.
Digital access
Novo Nordisk Malaysia recognises that managing chronic diseases requires more than just medication — it demands an ecosystem of care, supported by digital health tools.
'We are thinking about the entire patient journey,' said Jay. 'From awareness and education to diagnosis, treatment and long-term management, digital health plays a key role in creating convenience and better outcomes.'
Among its many digital initiatives is the HCP Locator — a digital tool that helps patients identify the right doctors for obesity.
Novo Nordisk also collaborates with telehealth providers, pharmacies and media partners to improve disease literacy and expand access to support services.
'For us, enabling healthcare through digital tools is an ongoing effort,' said Jay. 'We work closely with the Health Ministry to prevent misuse or misinformation that could impact patients, because we take chronic disease management very seriously.'
'These efforts aim to reduce the social and economic burden of chronic diseases — which in Malaysia account for nearly 68% of deaths and consume close to 4.5% of the country's GDP.'
Sustainable healthcare
Novo Nordisk Malaysia's long-term vision is anchored in three pillars: access, innovation and sustainability. The company is focused on building an ecosystem of care that integrates education, prevention and sustainable practices.
'We form many partnerships with our stakeholders to build an ecosystem for managing chronic diseases. This includes creating disease awareness, establishing treatment protocols and driving prevention activities,' said Jay.
Among these partnerships are:
>The Jom Mama Project (2013–2018): A collaboration with the Health Ministry (MOH) and academic institutions to promote pre-pregnancy health and reduce the risk of gestational and Type 2 diabetes risk. The initiative resulted in numerous academic publications, shared key learnings with MOH departments during stakeholder forums and conducted capacity building for community nurses at district health clinics in Seremban;
>The ERAT programme: Conceptualised in 2024 and currently in development, this programme collaborates with MOH pharmacists to help patients manage Type 2 diabetes better through structured HCP education and regular blood glucose monitoring;
>The Green Transition Alliance (2025–ongoing): Established with the Royal Danish Embassy, this initiative supports Malaysia's green agenda and promotes green collaboration between Denmark and Malaysia covering focus areas of healthy urban living, renewable energy, energy efficiency and water and environment.
Novo Nordisk Malaysia's local environmental commitments include supporting MOH to promote responsible disposal of unused medication in the MyMediSafe programme to avoid contaminating the environment, especially river sources. Disposal bins are made available throughout various participating clinics, hospitals and retail pharmacies for the public to dispose of their unwanted medicines. Novo Nordisk Malaysia has also developed an internal environmental management plan in its office to reduce plastic use, embed sustainability criteria in procurement and sourcing of vendors, reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) with travel caps and promote virtual meetings and organise external green activities.
The company also partners with local medical associations, including the Malaysian Obesity Society, for policy advocacy and capacity-building initiatives.
'We believe access to quality healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. We want to be part of a healthier future, where innovative therapies and sustainable practices go hand in hand,' Jay added.
Through these initiatives, Novo Nordisk not only supports Malaysia's healthcare goals but also aligns with its global purpose: to drive change for serious chronic diseases and the people affected by them.
To learn more about the company and its initiatives, visit Novo Nordisk Malaysia.