(AP) — Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk said Friday that it plans to expand its U.S. workforce this year by nearly 15 percent, which would add up to about 615 positions.
The insulin producer will recruit for new positions across the United States to support sales and medical operations. It will look for diabetes educators, medical liaisons and management positions like regional directors and business managers. The company also will look to fill positions at its new type 1 diabetes research center in Seattle and at a manufacturing plant in North Carolina.
Novo Nordisk employs about 4,100 people in the United States.
The drugmaker also said Friday that its first quarter profit soared 15 percent due in part to increased sales of its core insulin products. The company said its net earnings in the January-to-March period reached 4.6 billion kroner ($818 million), up from 4.1 billion kroner in the same period in 2010.
Sales increased by 13 percent to 17.8 billion kroner ($3.16 billion) from 15.69 billion kroner.
Novo Nordisk employs 32,000 people in 75 countries.
U.S.-traded shares of the company fell 4 percent, or $6.11, to $144.90 in afternoon trading while broader trading indexes rose slightly.