Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen is a Danish native born in 1960 and receiving his school education in United Kingdom and Denmark.
In 1986, Professor Thomsen graduated from University of Copenhagen where he later also obtained his PhD and DSc degrees within the pharmacology of experimental therapeutics. After three years of pharmacological research at Leo Pharma, he joined Novo Nordisk A/S where he was head of Growth Hormone research, Diabetes R&D, Global Drug Discovery and, since 2000, Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer. In this role, he was responsible for global drug and device research, CMC and global development, medical affairs, regulatory and safety within Novo Nordisk. During his tenure, more than 20 innovative medicines were developed and approved.
On 1 March 2021, Mads was appointed CEO of the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
Professor Thomsen has chaired Danish Research Council programmes within endocrinology and served as President of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences. Professor Thomsen has been board member of the Danish Technical University, Cellartis AB, Steno Diabetes Center, Symphogen A/S, and Chairman of the Board of the University of Copenhagen and Steno Diabetes Center. Today, he serves as member of the board of BB Biotech, Switzerland, and the BioInnovation Institute (BII), Denmark. In 2024, Professor Thomsen became member of the American Academy of Achievement Academy’s Golden Plate Awards Council.
Professor Thomsen has also served as a member of the editorial boards of international, peer-reviewed journals. Since 2000, he has served as adjunct professor of pharmacology at the Faculty of Health at University of Copenhagen.
In 2024, Professor Thomsen was The American Academy of Achievement guest of honor and recipient of the Golden Plate Award for the development of semaglutide.
At a national level, Professor Thomsen has acted as Chairman of the Danish Biotech, Research and Innovation Centre during its establishment, as well as on governmental committees, e.g. as Chairman of the working group ‘to create the next generation of life science companies’ under the Life Science Council, the Danish Government’s Growth Team for Life Science, and revision of the Danish system for post-graduate studies. His scientific publications include books, chapters and scientific papers within pharmacology, immunology, endocrinology and haemostasis.