Heritage

Milestones in the history of ALK

For a century, ALK has consistently devised and developed major advances for the treatment of allergy
The company’s roots can be traced back to 9 June 1923 when pharmacist Poul Barfod and physician Kaj Baagøe recorded the first pharmaceutically manufactured allergy preparation.

The product was designed to treat allergic reactions to goose feathers – neither Barfod or Baagøe realised that it was actually dust mites in bedding rather than goose feathers that were the true cause of the allergies they were investigating.

Explore the history of ALK

  • June, 1923
    ALK'S FOUNDATION
    Doctor Kaj Baagøe and pharmacist Poul Barfod produce Denmark’s first pharmaceutically manufactured allergen extract at Copenhagen University Hospital
  • June, 1949
    DEDICATED FACILITIES
    Production of allergy immunotherapy treatments and diagnostics is centered at an independent unit called Allergologisk Laboratorium København (Allergology Laboratory Copenhagen)
  • June, 1972
    A NEW INDUSTRY STANDARD
    ALK develops the technique to accurately identify the proteins that provoke allergies and a standardized process for manufacturing allergen extracts
  • June, 1978
    A WORLD FIRST
    The world’s first standardized allergy immunotherapy is launched by ALK
  • June, 1990
    GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
    In recent years, ALK and its global partners have invested substantially in the research and development of new, evidence-based allergy immunotherapy covering the most prevalent allergens that cause allergic rhinitis.
  • June, 1990
    A NEW TREATMENT OPTION
    ALK launches the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy drops
ALK'S FOUNDATION Doctor Kaj Baagøe and pharmacist Poul Barfod produce Denmark’s first pharmaceutically manufactured allergen extract at Copenhagen University Hospital
June, 1923
DEDICATED FACILITIES Production of allergy immunotherapy treatments and diagnostics is centered at an independent unit called Allergologisk Laboratorium København (Allergology Laboratory Copenhagen)
June, 1949
A NEW INDUSTRY STANDARD ALK develops the technique to accurately identify the proteins that provoke allergies and a standardized process for manufacturing allergen extracts
June, 1972
A WORLD FIRST The world’s first standardized allergy immunotherapy is launched by ALK
June, 1978
GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT In recent years, ALK and its global partners have invested substantially in the research and development of new, evidence-based allergy immunotherapy covering the most prevalent allergens that cause allergic rhinitis.
June, 1990
A NEW TREATMENT OPTION ALK launches the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy drops
June, 1990
  • ALK'S FOUNDATION
    June, 1923
    Doctor Kaj Baagøe and pharmacist Poul Barfod produce Denmark’s first pharmaceutically manufactured allergen extract at Copenhagen University Hospital
  • DEDICATED FACILITIES
    June, 1949
    Production of allergy immunotherapy treatments and diagnostics is centered at an independent unit called Allergologisk Laboratorium København (Allergology Laboratory Copenhagen)
  • A NEW INDUSTRY STANDARD
    June, 1972
    ALK develops the technique to accurately identify the proteins that provoke allergies and a standardized process for manufacturing allergen extracts
  • A WORLD FIRST
    June, 1978
    The world’s first standardized allergy immunotherapy is launched by ALK
  • GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
    June, 1990
    In recent years, ALK and its global partners have invested substantially in the research and development of new, evidence-based allergy immunotherapy covering the most prevalent allergens that cause allergic rhinitis.
  • A NEW TREATMENT OPTION
    June, 1990
    ALK launches the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy drops

ALKs dedicated research and development has shown that allergy immunotherapy addresses the underlying cause of the allergy rather than just treating the symptoms. With its latest product, ALK has become the first and only company to develop and launch a house dust mite SLIT-tablet which is indicated for usage in allergic rhinitis.

Last updated: 2022.07.08