BAGSVÆRD, Denmark—Every rank-and-file employee at drugmaker Novo Nordisk calls the chief executive by his first name, Lars. Hallways and offices fall silent around 5 p.m., when workers leave to pick up their children or commute home, many by bicycle. Fueled by blockbuster sales of drugs used for obesity, this very Danish company is now one of the world’s most valuable. As of Friday, the company’s market capitalization was roughly $439 billion—more than Pfizer, Lockheed Martin and Starbucks combined. In September, it overtook LVMH, the French luxury-goods firm, as Europe’s biggest company by market capitalization.

---

Persons: Lars, Lockheed Martin, LVMH Organizations: Denmark —, drugmaker Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Lockheed, Starbucks, Europe’s Locations: BAGSVÆRD, Denmark, Danish