NVIDIA Collaborates with Novo Nordisk and DCAI to Revolutionize Drug Discovery with AI Supercomputing

NVIDIA has announced a strategic collaboration with Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical giant, aimed at accelerating drug discovery and improving healthcare outcomes through artificial intelligence (AI). This partnership leverages DCAI's (Danish Center for Advanced Computing Infrastructure) sovereign AI supercomputer, Gefion, which is powered by NVIDIA's advanced computational platforms. The announcement was made at NVIDIA GTC Paris at VivaTech on June 11, 2025. The partnership is designed to integrate NVIDIA's state-of-the-art AI tools and expertise with Novo Nordisk's extensive knowledge in life sciences and pharmaceuticals. Key components of the collaboration include: Customized AI Models and Agents: Novo Nordisk will use NVIDIA BioNeMo, a framework for generative AI in drug discovery, to design molecules with desirable drug properties. They will also employ NVIDIA NeMo and NVIDIA NIM microservices to build and implement customized AI workflows for various stages of drug development. Advanced Simulations: The NVIDIA Omniverse platform will be utilized to create realistic simulation environments for developing and testing AI agents that can predict cellular responses to drug candidates. These simulations will help researchers identify promising molecules more quickly and accurately. Biomedical Large Language Models: By leveraging Gefion's computational power and NVIDIA's AI technologies, Novo Nordisk plans to develop large language models tailored to their specific needs. These models will help researchers analyze vast amounts of scientific literature to uncover hidden relationships between genes, proteins, and diseases, potentially leading to new therapeutic targets. Mishal Patel, Senior Vice President of AI and Digital Innovation at Novo Nordisk, highlighted the synergy between NVIDIA's expertise and Novo's R&D capabilities. "By coupling NVIDIA’s accelerated computing platform and expertise with Novo’s deep expertise in life sciences, we aim to build custom models that will aid our scientists in developing new medicines faster and more efficiently," said Patel. "Gefion will allow us to run experiments at an unprecedented scale." Rory Kelleher, Senior Director of Business Development for Life Sciences at NVIDIA, emphasized the transformative potential of this partnership. "AI is essential for every industry, and there’s no other field that will benefit more from acceleration than drug discovery," Kelleher stated. "Working with Novo Nordisk, we’re advancing critical R&D applications with tools that can harness the full potential of generative and agentic AI to improve pharmaceutical development." The Gefion supercomputer, owned and operated by DCAI, is a significant asset in this endeavor. Nadia Carlsten, CEO of DCAI, noted that Gefion's computational capabilities are crucial for tackling complex R&D challenges. "With Gefion’s computational power, we can unlock new possibilities for pharmaceutical research and development," she said. "Combining Gefion’s capabilities with NVIDIA’s expertise will drive innovation even further." Impact on the Danish Healthcare Ecosystem: DCAI's Gefion supercomputer is not only benefiting Novo Nordisk but also contributing to the broader Danish healthcare ecosystem. Multiple Danish startups and public health organizations are using Gefion to advance their projects. One notable example is Teton, a Danish startup participating in NVIDIA's Inception program. Teton is developing an AI care companion for hospitals that uses cameras and sensors to create real-time 3D digital twins of patient rooms. This technology enables remote patient monitoring and has shown early success in reducing nightshift duties by up to 25%, thereby easing the workload on healthcare staff and improving patient care. Another company is using Gefion to accelerate drug discovery in neurological and psychiatric disorders, while another venture-backed firm is focused on developing oral alternatives to biologics, targeting proteins that are difficult to drug with current methods. Additionally, Danish health organizations are working to integrate siloed health data into a single national analysis platform, facilitated by Gefion's supercomputing resources. This integration will enhance the ability to analyze large datasets, identify disease patterns early, and develop more personalized treatments, ultimately improving patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. Industry Evaluation and Company Profiles: The collaboration between NVIDIA and Novo Nordisk, supported by DCAI, is seen by industry insiders as a significant step towards revolutionizing drug discovery and healthcare. The integration of advanced AI and supercomputing technologies is expected to streamline pharmaceutical research, reduce development costs, and bring therapies to market faster. NVIDIA, known for its leadership in accelerated computing, has been at the forefront of AI innovation. Their BioNeMo framework, NeMo microservices, and Omniverse platform are key contributors to this collaboration's potential success. Novo Nordisk, a global leader in diabetes care and biopharmaceuticals, brings a wealth of experience and data to the table, making them a valuable partner in this initiative. DCAI's role in providing accessible and robust computing infrastructure is vital, particularly for smaller enterprises and public health systems in Denmark. The democratization of advanced AI capabilities through Gefion is anticipated to spur further innovation and collaboration in the Danish tech and healthcare sectors.