Harald Pedersen

Harald Pedersen (born 1878 in Øster Hurup – died 1966) was a Danish engineer and industrialist who, together with his brother Thorvald Pedersen, co-founded the pharmaceutical company Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium in 1925, predecessor of Novo Nordisk. Their work played a key role in the early Danish insulin industry.

Early life and education Harald Pedersen was born in Øster Hurup, Denmark, in 1878. He began his working life as an apprentice blacksmith at age 15. He later worked as an engineer at Frederiksberg Electricity Works until 1918, when after a workplace accident in which he lost an eye, he left that employment and became manager of the mechanical workshop at the Laboratory of Zoophysiology, University of Copenhagen.

Career In the early 1920s, Harald Pedersen worked with Nobel laureate August Krogh (and others) at the Laboratory of Zoophysiology; his mechanical workshop produced machines used in early insulin production.

In autumn 1923, his brother Thorvald was hired by Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium to analyse chemical processes in insulin production; Harald also worked at Nordisk.

Founding of Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium In 1924 a dispute occurred at Nordisk: Thorvald was fired by Hans Christian Hagedorn, co-founder of Nordisk, and Harald resigned in solidarity. Gudrun married Knud Hallas-Møller, who later succeeded Harald in leading Novo; their daughter Lise married Mads Øvlisen, who later served as CEO of Novo Nordisk and helped bring about the 1989 merger of Novo and Nordisk.