May 21 (Reuters) - The Novo Nordisk Foundation has

pledged up to DKK 380 million ($57.76 million) to the World

Health Organization (WHO) to expand its tie-up with the United

Nations agency for another four years, the philanthropic body

said on Wednesday.

WHO said on Tuesday it had secured over $170 million in new

commitments from multiple countries and organizations, but did

not disclose the amount contributed by the foundation, which

owns a controlling stake in drugmaker Novo Nordisk.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

The pledge comes at a time when the WHO faces a major

funding shortfall with the planned withdrawal of the United

States, its largest donor.

The Novo Nordisk Foundation said it is expanding its

collaboration to focus on non-communicable diseases,

antimicrobial resistance and health system resilience.

Novo Holdings, the foundation's investment arm, is one of

the world's biggest philanthropic donors.

CONTEXT

The U.S. is set to exit the agency in 2026 following

President Donald Trump's decision, announced on his first day in

office.

In response, WHO has cut its 2026-2027 budget by 20% to $4.2

billion and will raise mandatory member contributions by 20%,

with China becoming the top state donor.

KEY QUOTES

"WHO plays a unique role in the global health ecosystem,

providing normative guidance, monitoring diseases, building

country capacity for resilient health systems and supporting

learning and evidence," said Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen, CEO of the

foundation.

($1 = 6.5761 Danish crowns)