First American with Diabetes to Climb Highest Peak on Earth is First in World to Complete Global Peaks and Poles Challenge

KATMANDU, Nepal, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Will Cross today became the first American with diabetes to summit Mount Everest, the highest point on earth on which a human can walk without supplemental oxygen.(i) With this achievement, Cross, a 39-year-old father of six from Pittsburgh sponsored by NovoLog(R) (insulin aspart [rDNA origin] injection), became the first American -- and the first in the world with diabetes -- to climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents and trek to the North and South Poles, a multi-year odyssey known as the NovoLog(R) Peaks and Poles Challenge. He reached the summit at approximately 5:10 a.m. local time.

"Will Cross is making international history by completing the grueling four-year NovoLog Peaks and Poles Challenge -- a remarkable human feat for anyone with or without diabetes," said Andrew Purcell, Vice President of Strategic Business Development at Novo Nordisk, a world leader in diabetes care and developer of NovoLog. "Novo Nordisk and NovoLog are proud to have played such an important role in this lifetime achievement and to celebrate an important milestone in Novo Nordisk's 83-year heritage of diabetes advances."

During the expedition to the 29,035-foot summit of Mount Everest the former high school principal who is living with type 1 diabetes battled record-breaking winds, constant freezing temperatures, and dangerous ice including an April icefall avalanche. Compromised food and gear deliveries and limited communications due to political turmoil in the region also impacted his climb.

Cross uses NovoLog insulin, an analog insulin that mimics the body's normal meal-time insulin response. He relies on NovoLog(R) FlexPen(R), a pre-filled disposable delivery device designed to simplify injections, giving Cross flexibility in administering his insulin.

"Experiencing a peak or low blood sugar level can be life-threatening for anyone living with diabetes, especially someone crossing a 40-feet deep crevasse," said Cross. "The freedom to eat when I needed to and to inject insulin within ten minutes of my meals with NovoLog FlexPen allowed me the flexibility that played a vital role in making it to the highest peak in the world."

Cross, who is the subject of a recently released documentary, "Peaks and Poles: The Will Cross Story," succeeded on his third attempt at the summit, after he was forced to turn back twice (in 2004 and 2005) due to weather and a shortage of oxygen. He will continue to inspire people affected by diabetes at speaking events across the country throughout the remainder of the year. For more information visit http://peaksandpoles.com/.

About the NovoLog Peaks and Poles Challenge

The NovoLog Peaks and Poles Challenge is the pinnacle of exploration achievement that involves walking to the North and South Poles and climbing to the summit of the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. Will Cross is the first American -- and the first in the world with diabetes -- to complete it. Challenge stops include:

-- North & South Poles -- Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania -- Denali, Alaska -- Mount Aconcagua, Argentina -- Mount Vinson, Antarctica -- Mount Kosciusko, Australia -- Mount Everest, Nepal -- Mount Elbrus, Russia Further information can be found at http://peaksandpoles.com/. About Diabetes

Diabetes, a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, affects 20.8 million people in the US or seven percent of the population. Of those living with the disease 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the condition, and of those who have been diagnosed 10 million are in poor control. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death by disease in the US and costs an estimated $132 billion per year in medical expenses and lost productivity. According to the World Health Organization, the total number of people with diabetes worldwide is projected to rise from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million in 2030.

Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. It is estimated that 5-10 percent of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Research studies in the United States and abroad have found that improved glycemic control benefits people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

About NovoLog

NovoLog is a rapid acting form of insulin for the treatment of patients with diabetes mellitus (type 1 and type 2) for the control of hyperglycemia. It enters the bloodstream quickly and begins working within minutes to lower blood glucose. The rapid onset and short duration of action mimic the insulin action of a person without diabetes. NovoLog offers convenient mealtime dosing and should be dosed immediately or up to 10 minutes before a meal. NovoLog is available in the prefilled NovoLog FlexPen insulin delivery system and is approved for use in insulin pumps.

NovoLog is contraindicated during episodes of hypoglycemia and in patients hypersensitive to insulin aspart or one of its excipients. Hypoglycemia is the most common adverse effect of insulin therapy, including NovoLog. See package insert for more details. NovoLog was originally approved by the FDA for use in adults in the U.S. in 2000.

Because it has a more rapid onset and shorter duration of action than regular human insulin, NovoLog should normally be used in regimens together with an intermediate or long-acting insulin, and injection of NovoLog should immediately followed by a meal.

Any change in insulin should be made cautiously and only under medical supervision.

Novo Nordisk is a healthcare company with an 80-year history of innovation and achievement in diabetes care. In addition to diabetes care, Novo Nordisk has a leading position within areas such as hemostasis management, growth hormone therapy, and hormone therapy for women. Novo Nordisk's business is driven by the Triple Bottom Line: a commitment to economic success, environmental soundness, and social responsibility to employees and customers. With headquarters in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs approximately 22,000 full-time employees in 79 countries, and markets its products in 179 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the stock exchanges in Copenhagen and London. Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol 'NVO'. For global information, visit http://novonordisk.com/; for United States information, visit http://novonordisk-us.com/.

(i) PBS. Lost of Everest. Available at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/exposure/higher.html Accessed April 26, 2006.