Novozymes
A Danish biotechnology company that developed industrial enzymes, microorganisms, and biological solutions before merging with Chr. Hansen to form Novonesis in 2024.
Last updated August 27, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Novozymes was a Danish biotechnology company specializing in the discovery, development, manufacture, and commercialization of enzymes, microorganisms, and related biological ingredients. Its technologies were designed to make industrial and agricultural processes more efficient, less resource-intensive, and more compatible with sustainability objectives. Applications included detergents, food and beverages, animal health and nutrition, agriculture, bioenergy, textiles, leather processing, and a range of industrial manufacturing processes. The company’s history was rooted in the Danish insulin and fermentation businesses established by the Pedersen brothers in the early twentieth century. Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium and Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium were founded in 1925 with an initial focus on insulin production. This industrial biotechnology heritage later supported the development of enzyme technologies. A predecessor business introduced trypsin in 1941 for applications such as leather softening and began producing enzymes through bacterial fermentation during the 1950s. In the late 1980s, the business introduced Lipolase, an important detergent enzyme produced using genetically engineered microorganisms and designed to break down fats. Novozymes in its modern corporate form was created in 2000 through a spin-off from Novo Nordisk. As an independent company, it expanded beyond traditional enzyme applications by investing in microorganisms, agricultural biologicals, and biopharmaceutical ingredients. Acquisitions in the 2000s, including Turfal and EMD/Merck Crop BioScience, strengthened its agricultural biologicals activities. The company also developed capabilities in microbiome and biopharmaceutical-related technologies, although its biopharmaceutical operations were spun out into Albumedix in 2016. During the 2020s, Novozymes continued to broaden its microbiome platform through the acquisitions of PrecisionBiotics and Microbiome Labs. These transactions complemented its interest in biological products for human and animal health and nutrition. The company operated internationally, with activities and commercial presence across Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia, including China, India, Brazil, Argentina, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Novozymes was controlled through the Novo ownership structure. Novo A/S held a significant economic and voting interest, while the wider Novo Nordisk Foundation ownership structure was an important element of the company’s governance. Its Class B shares traded on the Nasdaq Nordic market before the company was combined with Chr. Hansen. In December 2023, Novozymes and Chr. Hansen announced that the proposed combination had received regulatory approval and disclosed the name Novonesis for the combined business. The merger received final approval from the Danish Business Authority and was completed on 29 January 2024. Novozymes therefore no longer operates as a separate corporate entity; its activities became part of Novonesis, a larger biosolutions company built from the two Danish biotechnology businesses.
History
Novozymes emerged from Denmark’s early pharmaceutical and fermentation industries. In 1925, Harald and Thorvald Pedersen established Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium and Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium, businesses created to manufacture insulin. Although insulin was the original focus, the companies developed expertise in biological production methods that later became central to enzyme manufacturing. A predecessor business launched trypsin in 1941. The enzyme was extracted from animal pancreases and used, among other purposes, to soften leather. During the 1950s, the business became an early producer of enzymes made through bacterial fermentation. This shift was strategically important because fermentation offered a scalable route to biological production and helped establish the technical foundation for later industrial biotechnology. The business continued to develop enzyme applications for household and industrial markets. In the late 1980s, it introduced Lipolase, described as the first fat-splitting detergent enzyme manufactured with genetically engineered microorganisms. The product demonstrated how biotechnology could improve cleaning performance while supporting lower-temperature washing and more resource-efficient formulations. The modern Novozymes company was established in 2000 as a spin-off from Novo Nordisk. As a separately managed biotechnology company, it focused on industrial enzymes and microorganisms rather than the pharmaceutical activities retained elsewhere in the Novo group. Its portfolio served diverse sectors, including detergents, food processing, agriculture, animal health, textiles, leather, bioenergy, and other industrial processes. During the 2000s, Novozymes pursued acquisitions to expand into agricultural biologicals and businesses adjacent to its core enzyme activities. The acquisition of the Brazilian bio-agricultural company Turfal and the purchase of EMD/Merck Crop BioScience helped build a position in biological agricultural products. This expansion reflected a broader strategy of applying microorganisms and biological mechanisms to crop productivity and agricultural sustainability. In January 2016, Novozymes separated its biopharmaceutical operations into Albumedix. The transaction clarified the company’s emphasis on industrial biotechnology and biological solutions while allowing the spun-out business to develop its own specialized activities. Novozymes later increased its exposure to microbiome technologies. In June 2020, it announced an agreement to acquire PrecisionBiotics, an Ireland-based company, for approximately $90 million. In December 2020, it announced a further acquisition of Microbiome Labs for approximately $125 million. These transactions broadened the company’s biological technology base beyond traditional industrial enzymes and into microbiome-related applications. The company remained internationally active, with operations or activities in markets including China, India, Brazil, Argentina, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Its ownership and governance were linked to the Novo Nordisk Foundation through Novo Holdings and Novo A/S. Before the merger, Novozymes Class B shares were traded on the Nasdaq Nordic exchange. The final phase of Novozymes’ independent history was its combination with Chr. Hansen. On 12 December 2023, the companies announced that the merger had received regulatory approval. On the following day, they presented Novonesis as the name for the combined company. After all final approvals were obtained from the Danish Business Authority, the merger was completed on 29 January 2024. Novozymes consequently ceased to exist as a standalone company and became part of Novonesis.
- 2024
Novozymes becomes part of Novonesis
[1]The merger with Chr. Hansen was completed on 29 January 2024, ending Novozymes’ existence as an independent company.
- 2023
Merger with Chr. Hansen receives approval
[1]Novozymes and Chr. Hansen announced regulatory approval for their merger and revealed Novonesis as the name of the combined company.
- 2016
Biopharmaceutical operations are spun out into Albumedix
[1]Novozymes separated its biopharmaceutical operations into Albumedix.
- 2000
Novozymes is established as a Novo Nordisk spin-off
[1]The modern Novozymes company was created through a spin-off from pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.
- 1980
Lipolase is introduced
[1]Novozymes’ predecessor introduced Lipolase, a fat-splitting detergent enzyme made with genetically engineered microorganisms.
- 1950
Bacterial fermentation becomes an enzyme-production method
[1]The predecessor organization became the first producer identified in the reference material to manufacture enzymes through bacterial fermentation.
- 1941
First enzyme product introduced by a predecessor
[1]A predecessor business introduced trypsin, an enzyme used in applications including leather softening.
- 1925
Novo insulin businesses are founded
[1]Harald and Thorvald Pedersen founded Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium and Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium, establishing the Danish industrial biotechnology lineage from which Novozymes later developed.
Products and positioning
Science-led industrial biotechnology focused on replacing or improving conventional chemical and resource-intensive processes through enzymes, microorganisms, and other biological technologies.
Detergent enzyme · 1980
Lipolase
Lipolase was a fat-splitting enzyme developed for detergent applications and produced using genetically engineered microorganisms. Introduced in the late 1980s, it illustrated Novozymes’ ability to translate fermentation and molecular biology into consumer and industrial cleaning technologies. Its function was to help break down fatty soils, supporting detergent performance under changing formulation and washing conditions.
Industrial biotechnology
Industrial enzyme solutions
Novozymes developed enzyme systems for multiple industries rather than relying on a single product category. These solutions were used in detergents, food and beverage processing, textiles, leather, bioenergy, and other manufacturing processes. The technologies were intended to catalyze specific reactions efficiently, helping customers modify production conditions, reduce inputs, or replace conventional chemical steps.
Agricultural biotechnology
Agricultural biological solutions
Following acquisitions in the agricultural biologicals sector, Novozymes developed and marketed microorganism-based solutions for agriculture. The portfolio reflected an effort to use biological mechanisms in crop and soil management and to expand the company beyond its traditional industrial enzyme business. Specific product names and individual launch dates are not established in the supplied reference material.
Microbiome biotechnology · 2020
Microbiome solutions
Novozymes expanded into microbiome-related products through its acquisitions of PrecisionBiotics and Microbiome Labs in 2020. These activities added biological technologies associated with human and animal health and nutrition to the company’s broader enzyme and microorganism platform. The supplied sources do not provide a complete list of commercial product names.
Brand decisions
2024
Merge with Chr. HansenM&ABackground
The combination was intended to bring together two major Danish bioscience businesses with complementary enzyme, microbial, and biological solution capabilities.
Action taken
Novozymes merged with Chr. Hansen after regulatory approval and began operating within Novonesis on 29 January 2024.
Aftermath
Novozymes ceased to be an independent corporate entity and its activities became part of Novonesis.
2020
Acquire PrecisionBioticsM&ABackground
Novozymes sought to expand its capabilities in microbiome-related biotechnology.
Action taken
The company announced an agreement to acquire Ireland-based PrecisionBiotics for approximately $90 million.
Aftermath
The acquisition broadened Novozymes’ platform beyond conventional industrial enzymes.
Announced acquisition value. $90 million (2020 announcement)
2020
Acquire Microbiome LabsM&ABackground
Novozymes continued building a microbiome technology and product platform.
Action taken
The company announced the acquisition of Microbiome Labs in a transaction valued at approximately $125 million.
Aftermath
The deal strengthened Novozymes’ presence in microbiome-related biological solutions.
Announced acquisition value. $125 million (2020 announcement)
2016
Spin out the biopharmaceutical operationsStrategyBackground
Novozymes separated its biopharmaceutical activities from the main company as part of a clearer focus on industrial biotechnology.
Action taken
The operations were spun out into Albumedix.
Aftermath
The transaction left Novozymes more concentrated on enzymes, microorganisms, and related industrial and agricultural biological solutions.
Recent events
- 2024
Novozymes merger with Chr. Hansen is completed[1]
M&A
The combination of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen was finalized on 29 January 2024 after the remaining approvals were obtained, creating Novonesis.
- 2023
Novozymes and Chr. Hansen obtain approval for their merger[1]
M&A · Regulation
Regulatory approval was announced for the combination of Novozymes and Chr. Hansen. The companies subsequently disclosed Novonesis as the name of the combined business.
- 2020
Novozymes announces acquisition of PrecisionBiotics[1]
M&A
Novozymes announced an agreement to acquire Ireland-based PrecisionBiotics for approximately $90 million, expanding its activities in microbiome-related products.
- 2020
Novozymes agrees to acquire Microbiome Labs[1]
M&A
The company announced a proposed acquisition of Microbiome Labs in a transaction valued at approximately $125 million, further developing its microbiome platform.
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/novozymes · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled