Our company

At ALK, we are pioneers in allergy with more than a century of experience under our belt.

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ALK is a Denmark-based, global specialty pharmaceutical company focused on allergy. For over a century, we have been at the forefront of long-term allergy treatment and innovation, working with passion and dedication to help people living with this chronic disease, their families and the healthcare professionals who treat them.

We are present in 46 markets worldwide, with offices in more than 20 countries and production sites in the USA, Spain, France, and Denmark. Our global presence reflects our commitment to address allergy across the world. Currently, we reach 2.6 million patients annually worldwide.

Our approximately 2,800 employees have entered the second century of ALK’s existence with a unified mission: to help five million people living with allergies by 2030 through continuous growth and innovation.

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Working with nature on a foundation of scientific expertise

Building on our deep understanding of the biological mechanisms behind allergies, we have developed a range of allergy immunotherapy treatments and management solutions that form the core of our current product portfolio.

A key component of these products is natural allergens, such as grass pollen and house dust mites. At ALK, we grow, collect, and harvest tons of these natural raw materials annually at our production facilities and take them through rigorous analysis, standardisation, and quality controls. We call this unique process “From farm to pharma”.

With our commitment to scientific progress, we are driven to continuously innovate and introduce groundbreaking concepts in allergy research and treatment, within our primary scientific focus areas; respiratory allergies, food allergies, anaphylaxis, and adjacent diseases.

Learn more about our scientific expertise and focus areas here.
Discover more about our unique production processes here.

Interested in partnering up with us? Read about our approach to collaborations here

Our leadership

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At ALK, we have a two-tier leadership structure, consisting of a Board of Directors and an Executive Leadership Team (ELT). The board and the ELT are independent of each other.

Find more information about the Board of Directors at ALK on our Investor site here.

Our Executive Leadership Team

The Executive Leadership Team at ALK includes the following executives. You can find their photos for download under Press and learn more about each member of the team on our career site.

Peter Halling, President & CEO*

Claus Steensen Sølje, CFO*

Henriette Mersebach, EVP Research & Development*

Søren Niegel, EVP Commercial Operations North America (interim)

Flora Beiche-Scholz, EVP Commercial Operations Europe

Lika Thiesen, EVP Global People & Organisation

Christian G. Houghton, EVP Product Supply

Jacob Glenting, SVP Global Strategy, Corporate Development & Global Marketing

Jan Engel Jensen, SVP Global Quality

* These three members of the Executive Leadership Team are registered with the Danish Business Authority and legally constitute ALK’s Board of Management.

Our history: Building on more than a century of experience

The history of ALK is a history of ‘firsts’. Decades of pushing boundaries and raising standards have placed us at the forefront of our industry and for more than 100 years, we have consistently devised and developed major advances for the treatment of allergy.

Ever since 1923, when pharmacist Peter Barfod and physician Kaj Baagøe documented the first pharmaceutically manufactured allergy preparation, ALK has led the way in allergy treatment, and our history includes demonstrating how to manufacture allergen extracts, establishing a standardised method for large-scale manufacturing, and introducing new, more convenient treatment formulations.

In 2005, ALK became a listed company. Although traded on the NASDAQ Copenhagen (OMX: ALK B), ALK has an unusually stable ownership, with two shareholders having notified shareholdings of 5% or more. By supporting independent research at the highest level, our owners strive to significantly improve people’s health and well-being.

The Lundbeck Foundation, one of Denmark’s largest enterprise foundations, is the controlling shareholder of ALK, holding 67% of the votes and 40% of the capital.

Learn more about the first 100 years of our history:

Read our book: ‘100 years of pioneering allergy solutions’

Listen to our true crime documentary podcast e.g. on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

June, 1923

ALK’s foundation

On 9 June 1923, Doctor Kaj Baagøe and pharmacist Peter Barfod produce Denmark’s first pharmaceutically manufactured allergen extract at Copenhagen University Hospital.

June, 1949

Dedicated facilities

The production of allergy immunotherapy treatments and diagnostics is centered at an independent unit called Allergologisk Laboratorium København (Allergological Laboratory Copenhagen).

June, 1972

Technical advancements

ALK develops the technique to accurately identify the proteins that provoke allergies.

June, 1976

A new industry standard

Based on the technique to identify the allergy-triggering proteins accurately, ALK develops a standardised process for manufacturing allergen extracts.

June, 1978

A world’s first

The world’s first standardised allergy immunotherapy product is launched by ALK.

June, 1989

New owner

The Lundbeck Foundation becomes the major shareholder of ALK. The foundation awards research grants primarily to support research in the biomedical sciences.

June, 1990

A new treatment option

ALK launches the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy drops.

June, 1992

Merging expertise

ALK merges with rival Spanish company Abelló to become ALK-Abelló.

June, 2006

A revolutionary ‘first’

ALK has the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet approved in Europe.

June, 2008

New name and logo

ALK changes its name to ALK, referring to Allergological Laboratory Copenhagen, and introduces a new logo. ALK-Abelló remains the legal name of the company.

June, 2010

Expanding in anaphylaxis

ALK launches its first adrenaline  autoinjector.

June, 2017

Inclusion in GINA

For the first time, allergy immunotherapy is recommended as a treatment option in the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) strategy document.

June, 2018

A digital universe

ALK’s digital patient engagement platform, klarify.me, is launched, offering a broad range of services to help people manage their allergies.

June, 2021

Entering into food allergies

ALK announces an entry into food allergy treatment and begins the development of a sublingual immunotherapy tablet  for peanut allergies.

June, 2023

ALK turns 100 years

On 9 June 2023, ALK celebrated its 100-year anniversary, marking that the company has been a pioneer in fighting allergies for 100 years – and still counting.

June, 2024

A new corporate strategy: Allergy+

With a mission to help even more people, with more solutions, more efficiently, ALK entered its second century, launching a new strategy: Allergy+ and also entered into the largest in-licensing deal in the history of the company to help many more people with allergy and anaphylaxis

June, 2025

A world’s first within anaphylaxis

ALK launches a nasal adrenaline spray for the treatment of anaphylaxis - the first in the world – in e.g. Germany, and the UK. At the same time, the company launched its allergy immunotherapy tablets for the treatment of children in more than 20 markets.

ALK’s foundation	On 9 June 1923, Doctor Kaj Baagøe and pharmacist Peter Barfod produce Denmark’s first pharmaceutically manufactured allergen extract at Copenhagen University Hospital.	1923-06-08
Dedicated facilities	The production of allergy immunotherapy treatments and diagnostics is centered at an independent unit called Allergologisk Laboratorium København (Allergological Laboratory Copenhagen).	1949-06-08
Technical advancements	ALK develops the technique to accurately identify the proteins that provoke allergies.	1972-06-08
A new industry standard	Based on the technique to identify the allergy-triggering proteins accurately, ALK develops a standardised process for manufacturing allergen extracts.	1976-06-08
A world’s first	The world’s first standardised allergy immunotherapy product is launched by ALK.	1978-06-08
New owner	The Lundbeck Foundation becomes the major shareholder of ALK. The foundation awards research grants primarily to support research in the biomedical sciences.	1989-06-08
A new treatment option	ALK launches the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy drops.	1990-06-08
Merging expertise	ALK merges with rival Spanish company Abelló to become ALK-Abelló.	1992-06-08
A revolutionary ‘first’	ALK has the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet approved in Europe.	2006-06-08
New name and logo	ALK changes its name to ALK, referring to Allergological Laboratory Copenhagen, and introduces a new logo. ALK-Abelló remains the legal name of the company.	2008-06-08
Expanding in anaphylaxis	ALK launches its first adrenaline  autoinjector.	2010-06-08
Inclusion in GINA	For the first time, allergy immunotherapy is recommended as a treatment option in the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) strategy document.	2017-06-08
A digital universe	ALK’s digital patient engagement platform, klarify.me, is launched, offering a broad range of services to help people manage their allergies.	2018-06-08
Entering into food allergies	ALK announces an entry into food allergy treatment and begins the development of a sublingual immunotherapy tablet  for peanut allergies.	2021-06-08
ALK turns 100 years	On 9 June 2023, ALK celebrated its 100-year anniversary, marking that the company has been a pioneer in fighting allergies for 100 years – and still counting.	2023-06-08
A new corporate strategy: Allergy+	With a mission to help even more people, with more solutions, more efficiently, ALK entered its second century, launching a new strategy: Allergy+ and also entered into the largest in-licensing deal in the history of the company to help many more people with allergy and anaphylaxis	2024-06-08
A world’s first within anaphylaxis	ALK launches a nasal adrenaline spray for the treatment of anaphylaxis - the first in the world – in e.g. Germany, and the UK. At the same time, the company launched its allergy immunotherapy tablets for the treatment of children in more than 20 markets.	2025-06-08

ALK’s foundation

1923-06-08

On 9 June 1923, Doctor Kaj Baagøe and pharmacist Peter Barfod produce Denmark’s first pharmaceutically manufactured allergen extract at Copenhagen University Hospital.
Dedicated facilities

1949-06-08

The production of allergy immunotherapy treatments and diagnostics is centered at an independent unit called Allergologisk Laboratorium København (Allergological Laboratory Copenhagen).
Technical advancements

1972-06-08

ALK develops the technique to accurately identify the proteins that provoke allergies.
A new industry standard

1976-06-08

Based on the technique to identify the allergy-triggering proteins accurately, ALK develops a standardised process for manufacturing allergen extracts.
A world’s first

1978-06-08

The world’s first standardised allergy immunotherapy product is launched by ALK.
New owner

1989-06-08

The Lundbeck Foundation becomes the major shareholder of ALK. The foundation awards research grants primarily to support research in the biomedical sciences.
A new treatment option

1990-06-08

ALK launches the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy drops.
Merging expertise

1992-06-08

ALK merges with rival Spanish company Abelló to become ALK-Abelló.
A revolutionary ‘first’

2006-06-08

ALK has the world’s first sublingual allergy immunotherapy tablet approved in Europe.
New name and logo

2008-06-08

ALK changes its name to ALK, referring to Allergological Laboratory Copenhagen, and introduces a new logo. ALK-Abelló remains the legal name of the company.
Expanding in anaphylaxis

2010-06-08

ALK launches its first adrenaline  autoinjector.
Inclusion in GINA

2017-06-08

For the first time, allergy immunotherapy is recommended as a treatment option in the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) strategy document.
A digital universe

2018-06-08

ALK’s digital patient engagement platform, klarify.me, is launched, offering a broad range of services to help people manage their allergies.
Entering into food allergies

2021-06-08

ALK announces an entry into food allergy treatment and begins the development of a sublingual immunotherapy tablet  for peanut allergies.
ALK turns 100 years

2023-06-08

On 9 June 2023, ALK celebrated its 100-year anniversary, marking that the company has been a pioneer in fighting allergies for 100 years – and still counting.
A new corporate strategy: Allergy+

2024-06-08

With a mission to help even more people, with more solutions, more efficiently, ALK entered its second century, launching a new strategy: Allergy+ and also entered into the largest in-licensing deal in the history of the company to help many more people with allergy and anaphylaxis
A world’s first within anaphylaxis

2025-06-08

ALK launches a nasal adrenaline spray for the treatment of anaphylaxis - the first in the world – in e.g. Germany, and the UK. At the same time, the company launched its allergy immunotherapy tablets for the treatment of children in more than 20 markets.