Novo Nordisk Foundation Invests $260M in Respiratory Disease Vaccines and Research

The Novo Nordisk Foundation, controlling drug maker Novo Nordisk, plans to allocate up to $265 million to establish an initiative focused on improving vaccines for respiratory diseases. The foundation's windfall from the success of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug, Wegovy, has positioned it as a potential major philanthropist and ESG investor. The initiative aims to develop new or enhanced vaccines for deadly respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis, influenza, and streptococcus. In partnership with the University of Copenhagen, it will be the world's first initiative solely dedicated to understanding how to generate immunity in the airway. The move comes as the fight against tuberculosis has been hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the foundation's funding is expected to increase significantly due to returns from Wegovy.