(Reuters) -Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer’s former research and development chief, has withdrawn his candidacy for Novo Nordisk’s board, citing personal reasons, the Danish drugmaker said on Thursday.

Dolsten, who led Pfizer’s R&D operations until 2024, informed Novo that he would not seek election at Friday’s extraordinary general meeting.

He has previously held senior R&D roles at Boehringer Ingelheim and AstraZeneca.

The other board candidates standing for election remain unchanged from the October 21 meeting notice, Novo Nordisk said.

The development comes as Novo Nordisk’s top investor, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, in October moved to take control of the drugmaker’s board, vowing a sharper focus on the key U.S. market to revive sales of blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy as Novo’s chair

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