Aspirin

Novo Nordisk is strengthening its R&D pipeline across obesity, diabetes and related chronic conditions. Credit: Getty/Victor Golmer Andrea Haegebarth will join Novo Nordisk as SVP of Global Research, while Jacob Petersen will take on the role of Head of R&D External Innovation Novo Nordisk has announced a reshuffle in its research team, with former Bayer executive Andrea Haegebarth set to join as Senior Vice President of Global Research, replacing Jacob Petersen, who will become Head of R&D External Innovation. The changes, effective from 1 October 2026, will support the Danish pharmaceutical giant’s efforts to bolster its research programmes and improve engagement with the global scientific community and innovation leaders. Discussing the appointments on LinkedIn, Martin Holst Lange, Executive Vice President of R&D and Chief Scientific Officer at Novo Nordisk, writes that Andrea and Jacob’s “roles are highly complementary – strengthening our research further and connecting us with the best science across the community to deliver meaningful innovation.” Martin Holst Lange, Executive Vice President of R&D & Chief Scientific Officer at Novo Nordisk. Credit: LinkedIn Novo Nordisk is strengthening its R&D pipeline across obesity, diabetes and related chronic conditions, building on its expertise in incretin biology. Key programmes include CagriSema and a range of next-generation GLP-1 therapies, alongside research into cardiovascular disease and rare disorders. The company is also using AI and digital technologies to accelerate drug development and decision-making, including through the establishment of an “ AI co-innovation hub ” in London with Amazon Web Services , which was announced in August 2026. Novo Nordisk R&D: at a glance DKK52bn (US$8bn): R&D spending in 2025, up 8% year-on-year. 16.8%: R&D spending as a share of Novo Nordisk’s 2025 sales. 37: Novo Nordisk’s public R&D pipeline lists 37 programmes across Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3 and filed/approval stages. 31: programmes related to obesity or diabetes. Next-generation technologies: Novo is developing therapies using RNAi, gene editing, cell therapy, peptides and proteins, alongside oral drug-delivery technologies. A Bayer veteran Andrea joins Novo Nordisk to lead its Global Research department, having spent nearly two decades at German pharmaceutical firm Bayer . The company manufactures some of the world’s best-known pharmaceutical and consumer health products, including Aspirin, Berocca, Rennies and Xarelto. Andrea began her career at Bayer as a Research Scientist in its Oncology division and has since held a range of roles across the company’s R&D organisation, spanning product commercialisation, R&D strategy and oncology. Most recently, she held the position of Global Head of Research & Early Development Precision Medicine, where she was responsible for building Bayer’s portfolio across precision cardiovascular and nephrology, spanning both chronic and acute care, while supporting activities in immunology. Andrea Haegebarth, incoming Senior Vice President of Global Research at Novo Nordisk. Credit: LinkedIn At Novo Nordisk, Andrea’s role will focus strongly on drug discovery for serious chronic diseases. Andrea writes on LinkedIn: “I am particularly excited to bring my experience across cardiovascular, renal and immunology research to help build on Novo Nordisk’s strong scientific foundation, expand our impact in related disease areas, and advance innovations that address important unmet needs for patients. “For me, the opportunity is about more than building a strong research pipeline. It is about building a pipeline of possibilities for patients - new approaches, new treatments and, ultimately, new hope for people and families affected by chronic disease.” “ For me, the opportunity is about more than building a strong research pipeline. It is about building a pipeline of possibilities for patients. ” Andrea Haegebarth Incoming SVP of Global Research at Novo Nordisk An internal reshuffle Jacob’s appointment represents an internal move within Novo Nordisk’s R&D operation. As Head of R&D External Innovation, he will lead efforts to identify and harness scientific advances, ideas and capabilities from across the scientific community. Jacob has worked across a range of departments at Novo Nordisk during his more than 25 years at the company, including metabolic diseases, cell therapy, nucleic acid therapies, diabetes and obesity. Jacob Petersen, incoming Head of R&D External Innovation at Novo Nordisk. Credit: LinkedIn Discussing his new position on LinkedIn, Jacob writes, “External innovation is not only about looking outside our walls. It is about staying open, humble and curious. It is about learning from the global scientific community, building trusted relationships, and bringing together the very best ideas, technologies and capabilities, wherever they originate, to help create medicines that can make a meaningful difference for patients. “We have an opportunity to further strengthen how Novo Nordisk identifies, builds and advances external collaborations across R&D and to ensure that great science, wherever it begins, has the best possible chance of reaching the people who need it.” Key Novo Nordisk partners Amazon Web Services (AWS) CEO: Matt Garman | HQ: Seattle, Washington In August 2026, Novo Nordisk and AWS announced a strategic partnership to accelerate AI-powered drug discovery. The collaboration will use AWS cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities alongside Novo Nordisk’s scientific expertise, data and research platforms, aiming to improve the speed and scale of discovering and developing new medicines. Aspect Biosystems CEO: Tamer Mohamed | HQ: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Novo Nordisk and Aspect are developing advanced cellular medicines for diabetes, using Aspect’s 3D bioprinting technology and Novo Nordisk’s cell-therapy expertise. In 2026, the partnership entered a new phase, with Aspect taking responsibility for development, manufacturing and commercialisation while gaining access to selected Novo Nordisk technologies. Vivtex CEO: Thomas von Erlach | HQ: Boston, Massachusetts Novo Nordisk partnered with Vivtex in 2026 to develop next-generation oral biologic medicines for obesity, diabetes and related conditions. Vivtex will license its proprietary oral drug-delivery technologies, designed to improve the absorption of peptides and proteins. The deal could be worth up to US$2.1bn, with Novo Nordisk leading global development and commercialisation. Company portals Amazon Web Services (AWS) Bayer Novo Nordisk Executives Andrea Haegebarth Senior Vice President, Global Head Research & Early Development Precision Medicine Jacob Petersen Senior Vice President, Head of Global Research Martin Holst Lange Executive Vice President of R&D & Chief Scientific Officer

Omega-3 and low-dose aspirin matched the effectiveness of antibiotics in a year-long study of patients with severe gum disease, with both approaches helping about 58% reach the treatment goal. The unexpected result could point to a new way to treat some patients while reducing reliance on antibiotics and the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.A combination of omega-3 and low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) performed about as well as antibiotics in a yearlong study of people with severe periodontitis, raising the possibility of an alternative treatment for some patients. The research was conducted by scientists affiliated with Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, Guarulhos University (UNG), the University of Taubaté (UNITAU), and the Ribeirão Preto School of Dentistry at USP (FORP-USP) in Brazil, along with Harvard University in the United States. The findings were published in the Journal of Periodontology. Researchers say the results could eventually help reduce antibiotic use in selected patients, an important consideration as bacterial resistance becomes an increasingly serious global health problem. Severe Periodontitis Can Damage Bone and Teeth Supported by FAPESP (projects 20/05874-2 and 20/05875-9), the clinical study included 109 people with advanced periodontitis who were followed for one year. Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that develops when bacteria accumulate below the gumline and damage the tissues that hold teeth in place. In advanced cases, the disease can destroy supporting bone, loosen teeth, and eventually cause tooth loss. "Patients with severe disease have very deep pockets, which act as reservoirs for bacteria associated with the disease. It's a very challenging condition to treat," says dental surgeon Nídia Cristina Castro dos Santos, the first author of the study and a professor and researcher at Einstein. Researchers Compared Four Treatment Strategies The participants were randomly divided into four groups. Everyone received subgingival instrumentation, popularly known as scaling, which is a standard treatment for periodontitis. The procedure removes bacterial deposits and other material from below the gums. What differed among the groups was the additional treatment they received. Participants in the control group were given placebo versions of the antibiotics, omega-3, and ASA, packaged in capsules that looked like the active treatments. A second group received the antibiotics metronidazole and amoxicillin. This combination has some of the strongest scientific evidence supporting its use in severe periodontitis. Patients took the antibiotics three times per day for 14 days. A third group received three grams of omega-3 each day along with a daily dose of aspirin for six months. The fourth group received both approaches, taking antibiotics for two weeks while also following the omega-3 and ASA regimen for six months. Researchers assessed the participants again after three, six, and twelve months. Omega-3 and Aspirin Nearly Matched Antibiotics After one year, about 58% of patients treated with antibiotics had reached the clinical target established by the researchers. That goal was defined as having no more than four remaining deep periodontal pockets. The omega-3 and ASA group achieved a nearly identical result, with 57.7% of participants reaching the same target. The difference compared with standard treatment alone was substantial. Among patients who received scaling plus placebo, only 23.1% met the clinical goal. Surprisingly, using antibiotics together with omega-3 and ASA did not produce any additional benefit over either strategy alone. "The use of antibiotics isn't considered the gold standard of treatment. Although metronidazole and amoxicillin yield good results in the most severe cases, their use should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis due to risks related to bacterial resistance and possible adverse effects," says Castro dos Santos. Earlier Research Pointed to Omega-3's Potential The findings build on previous work examining omega-3 and inflammation in periodontal disease. In an earlier FAPESP-supported study published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that omega-3 supplementation reduced inflammation and bone loss associated with periodontal disease in rats. The effect was particularly noticeable when supplementation was combined with physical exercise. Because that research used an animal model, it could not establish whether the same effects would occur in people. However, it provided evidence that omega-3 might influence inflammatory processes involved in oral disease. Helping the Body Resolve Inflammation According to Castro, omega-3 works differently from conventional anti-inflammatory medications. Rather than simply blocking particular inflammatory pathways, omega-3 can contribute to the production of molecules that help the body naturally bring inflammation to an end and promote tissue repair. Low-dose ASA was included because it can enhance the production of these inflammation-resolving molecules. Researchers therefore suspected that combining omega-3 with ASA might help the body gain better control over the persistent inflammation associated with periodontitis. "We imagined that the combination of antibiotics and omega-3 would be most effective in controlling periodontitis in these patients. We also believed that the results for the group that used omega-3 with ASA would be slightly lower than those for the antibiotic group. The result was surprising because the two therapies performed very similarly, paving the way for it to become a treatment option for these patients," says Castro. Benefits Continued After Treatment Ended The researchers were also struck by how long the apparent benefits lasted. Participants who had taken omega-3 and ASA continued to show results similar to those seen at the end of treatment even six months after supplementation had stopped. According to Castro, the persistence of the effect raises the possibility that changing the way the body responds to inflammation could produce longer-lasting benefits. Researchers are still investigating exactly how this might happen. For dental surgeon Magda Feres, the lead author of the study and a full professor at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and the Graduate Program in Dentistry at UNG, the results suggest that targeting the inflammatory response could provide another option for certain patients. "The combination of omega-3 and low-dose aspirin achieved clinical benefits comparable to those of the metronidazole and amoxicillin protocol, opening up a real alternative for those who can't take antibiotics, especially patients with allergies or intolerance to these medications," she says. A Possible Way to Reduce Antibiotic Use The potential to treat some cases without antibiotics is particularly relevant because antibiotic resistance is considered one of the major threats to global public health. When bacteria are repeatedly exposed to antibiotics, strains that can survive the drugs may spread, making infections more difficult to treat. Reducing unnecessary antibiotic use is therefore an important public health goal. "Demonstrating that it's possible to treat severe periodontitis by modulating the body's own response is new and relevant information that helps preserve antibiotics for when they are truly indispensable," says Feres. More Evidence Is Needed Despite the promising results, the researchers stress that omega-3 and aspirin should not yet be viewed as a routine replacement for antibiotics in severe periodontitis. The clinical trial included patients who did not have significant systemic or oral diseases. Additional studies will be needed to determine whether the findings hold true in broader and more diverse populations, and to establish which patients are most likely to benefit from each treatment strategy. Researchers are also conducting microbiological analyses to understand what happens to bacteria inside periodontal pockets during treatment. Preliminary findings suggest that the therapies may reduce bacterial species associated with periodontal disease while increasing microorganisms linked to healthier gums. "It's an important step forward, but not the end of the story. Therefore, the message is one of cautious optimism: we have a promising, scientifically plausible alternative to antibiotics in select cases. Routine replacement will require more evidence," she concludes.