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 standardised process for manufacturing allergen extracts
  • June, 1978
    A world first
    The world’s first standardised allergy immunotherapy is launched by ALK
  • June, 1990
    A new treatment option
    ALK launches the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy drops (SLIT-drops)
  • June, 1990
    Groundbreaking asthma research
    ALK collaborates on research that shows allergy immunotherapy decreases the risk of developing asthma in children with allergic rhinitis
  • July, 2006
    First SLIT-tablets
    The world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet (SLIT-tablet) is approved in Europe.
  • July, 2009
    SLIT-tablet approved as a disease-modifying treatment
    ALK's SLIT-tablet the only one to be approved as a disease-modifying treatment for grass pollen allergy
  • July, 2015
    First house dust mite SLIT-tablet
    The first SLIT-tablet for house dust mite allergy approved for both allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma
  • July, 2016
    GAP-trial demonstrates reduced asthma symptoms
    Trial in children demonstrates that ALK's grass pollen SLIT-tablet reduces the risk in development of asthma symptoms and/or use of asthma medication in children with grass pollen allergic rhinitis
ALK's foundation Doctor Kaj Baagøe and pharmacist Poul Barfod produce Denmark’s first pharmaceutically manufactured allergen extract at Copenhagen University Hospital 1923-06-08
Dedicated facilities Production of allergy immunotherapy treatments and diagnostics is centered at an independent unit called Allergologisk Laboratorium København (Allergology Laboratory Copenhagen) 1949-06-08
A new industry standard ALK develops the technique to accurately identify the proteins that provoke allergies and a standardised process for manufacturing allergen extracts 1972-06-08
A world first The world’s first standardised allergy immunotherapy is launched by ALK 1978-06-08
A new treatment option ALK launches the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy drops (SLIT-drops) 1990-06-08
Groundbreaking asthma research ALK collaborates on research that shows allergy immunotherapy decreases the risk of developing asthma in children with allergic rhinitis 1990-06-08
First SLIT-tablets The world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet (SLIT-tablet) is approved in Europe. 2006-07-01
SLIT-tablet approved as a disease-modifying treatment ALK's SLIT-tablet the only one to be approved as a disease-modifying treatment for grass pollen allergy 2009-07-01
First house dust mite SLIT-tablet The first SLIT-tablet for house dust mite allergy approved for both allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma 2015-07-01
GAP-trial demonstrates reduced asthma symptoms Trial in children demonstrates that ALK's grass pollen SLIT-tablet reduces the risk in development of asthma symptoms and/or use of asthma medication in children with grass pollen allergic rhinitis 2016-07-01
  • ALK's foundation
    1923-06-08
    Doctor Kaj Baagøe and pharmacist Poul Barfod produce Denmark’s first pharmaceutically manufactured allergen extract at Copenhagen University Hospital
  • Dedicated facilities
    1949-06-08
    Production of allergy immunotherapy treatments and diagnostics is centered at an independent unit called Allergologisk Laboratorium København (Allergology Laboratory Copenhagen)
  • A new industry standard
    1972-06-08
    ALK develops the technique to accurately identify the proteins that provoke allergies and a standardised process for manufacturing allergen extracts
  • A world first
    1978-06-08
    The world’s first standardised allergy immunotherapy is launched by ALK
  • A new treatment option
    1990-06-08
    ALK launches the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy drops (SLIT-drops)
  • Groundbreaking asthma research
    1990-06-08
    ALK collaborates on research that shows allergy immunotherapy decreases the risk of developing asthma in children with allergic rhinitis
  • First SLIT-tablets
    2006-07-01
    The world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet (SLIT-tablet) is approved in Europe.
  • SLIT-tablet approved as a disease-modifying treatment
    2009-07-01
    ALK's SLIT-tablet the only one to be approved as a disease-modifying treatment for grass pollen allergy
  • First house dust mite SLIT-tablet
    2015-07-01
    The first SLIT-tablet for house dust mite allergy approved for both allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma
  • GAP-trial demonstrates reduced asthma symptoms
    2016-07-01
    Trial in children demonstrates that ALK's grass pollen SLIT-tablet reduces the risk in development of asthma symptoms and/or use of asthma medication in children with grass pollen allergic rhinitis

In recent years, ALK and its global partners have invested substantially in the research and development of new, evidence-based sublingual allergy immunotherapy (SLIT) tablets covering the majority of the respiratory allergies – house dust mite, grass pollen, pollen from birch and related trees, and ragweed pollen, as well as Japanese cedar pollen, which is a major cause of allergy in Japan.

In parallel, ALKs dedicated research and development has shown that allergy immunotherapy addresses the underlying cause of the allergy rather than just treating the symptoms and that it potentially prevents the development of asthma. 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 both allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma.

Recently, ALK also disclosed data from a long-term clinical trial into asthma prevention in children suffering from grass pollen allergy which showed that its tablet-based allergy immunotherapy treatment for grass pollen allergy, significantly reduced the proportion of children experiencing asthma symptoms, an effect which was sustained for two years after end of treatment.

Last updated: 2016.11.14