Allergy is one of the most common chronic disease globally affecting both adults and children worldwide. Living with an allergy can impact quality of life for both patients and their relatives – whether due to undiagnosed conditions, poorly managed symptoms, or the risk of life-threatening emergencies like anaphylaxis.
At ALK, we have spent over a century innovating within the field of allergy, driven by a strong purpose to improve life for those affected by these chronic conditions. Our profound understanding of how allergy works has led us to develop a range of disease-modifying allergy immunotherapy treatments (AIT) and other allergy management solutions for patients across the globe.
We remain committed to continuously advancing science and expanding our pipeline to reach and help even more people worldwide. With a global team of 2,800 employees, we are united in our mission to help five million people with allergy by 2030.
On this mission, our focus is on respiratory allergies, anaphylaxis, and food & venom allergy, while we also aim to expand into closely related therapy areas with high unmet medical needs and where effective treatments are limited and daily life is affected.
Our disease areas
More than 500 million people worldwide live with allergic rhinitis, also known as hay fever or respiratory allergy. Around 40% are children.
Triggered by airborne allergens – such as pollen, house dust mites, molds, animal dander – this type of allergy can bring symptoms ranging from a blocked nose and itchy, watery eyes to allergic asthma, potentially significantly disrupting daily life by causing sleep problems, missed school or workdays, an impacted social life, and reduced well-being.
Without proper treatment, symptoms may worsen – in fact, allergic rhinitis is considered one of the major risk factors of the development of asthma.
For many people, over-the-counter medicines like antihistamines and nasal sprays can provide sufficient symptom relief. But for those with persistent or severe symptoms, a different approach may be needed to restore quality of life.
At ALK, we specialise in evidence-based allergy immunotherapy (AIT) – the only treatment proven to modify the natural course of respiratory allergy by gradually retraining the immune system to tolerate allergens.
With more than a century of experience within respiratory allergies, we remain committed to advancing science in the field to continue developing innovative, evidence-based treatments, focused on disease modification, prevention of progression and co-morbidities, such as allergic asthma.
Anaphylaxis is a severe, rapidly developing allergic reaction – also known as an anaphylactic shock – triggered by allergens such as specific foods, medications, or insect stings and causing symptoms like facial swelling, difficulty breathing, and a sudden drop in blood pressure.
If left untreated, it can lead to respiratory arrest, and prompt and effective medical attention is critical to saving lives. In some cases, even tiny amounts of an allergen can lead to anaphylaxis, and living with this constant risk can significantly impact quality of life for both patients and their relatives.
The first line treatment is adrenaline, which must be administered as soon as symptoms appear. Other treatments, such as antihistamines and corticosteroids, may be used as adjuncts but not substitutes.
For over 30 years, ALK has been dedicated to equip patients and healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively manage acute life-threatening allergic reactions like anaphylaxis.
As the only company on the market, we offer a patient-centric non-invasive adrenaline product as well as an adrenaline auto-injector – and we remain committed to developing cutting-edge, patient-friendly solutions to meet diverse patient needs globally.
Food and venom allergies, triggered by specific foods or venom from e.g. bee or wasp stings, can lead to severe and potentially life-threatening reactions, such as an anaphylactic shock, requiring immediate emergency treatment, including adrenaline.
Peanut and tree nut allergies are among the leading causes of anaphylaxis worldwide, and food allergies in general affect an estimated 4% of children – a number that is only increasing as diets and environments change.
Living with food or venom allergy means daily vigilance to avoid accidental exposure – even to trace amounts of allergen – often leading to an impacted quality of life and sometimes causing anxiety for patients and their families.
At ALK, we are building a position on the global market of food allergy, drawing on more than a century of allergy expertise and purpose-driven innovation. We are committed to develop innovative, evidence-based treatments through immunology research, currently focusing on innovating disease-modifying therapies for peanut allergy – see our development pipeline here.
For those living with insect venom allergy, we offer venom immunotherapy (VIT), the only treatment proven to prevent recurring severe sting reactions, thereby helping restore confidence in everyday life.
You can learn more about how we collect, extract and process venom from bees and wasps to create insect venom allergy treatments in this video.
With our expertise in allergology and immunology, we aim to expand into closely related therapy areas, such as e.g. urticaria, atopic dermatitis, leveraging our core research and development strengths and scientific leadership to create better options for people with complex allergies and related diseases.
Our scientists focus on two key drivers of the allergic response: mast cells and IgE memory B cells. By understanding how these cells interact, we’re looking for new pathways and aim to develop treatments that can help rebalance the immune system and provide more lasting outcomes for patients.
We prioritise areas with high unmet medical needs, where effective treatments are limited and daily life is affected.
To move faster, we pair in‑house discovery with international and multicultural scientific collaboration and partnerships across academia, biotech and industry – advancing new treatment approaches and building a pipeline of evidence‑based solutions for people living with allergy and adjacent diseases.
Learn more about our approach to collaboration and partnering in allergy research and beyond on this page. Read more about our strategic focus areas towards 2028 here and find our development pipeline here.
Find out more about allergy and our solutions:
You can learn more about our scientific expertise, focus areas, and development pipeline here.
ALK’s unique production processes
At ALK, our allergy immunotherapy (AIT) treatments are made from natural sources like grass and tree pollen, house dust mites, venom, food, and pet dander – using unique technologies and extensive expertise.
materials
purification and SQ standardisation
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distribution
Each batch is rigorously tested several times throughout the production process to ensure that the biological variation that will always be present in a product deriving from natural ingredients does not affect the quality of the finished product. It also ensures that it is possible to reproduce the product at any time.
From the collection of raw materials to the final packaged product, our commitment to quality and safety remains constant. Watch the video to learn more about how we harness nature for our allergy immunotherapy products – We call it “from farm to pharma”.
Quality is central to everything we do at ALK – it’s our license to operate, a safety net for our patients, and the foundation for our ongoing growth as a company. That’s why quality is a strategic priority and a shared responsibility across our entire organisation.
We build quality into every aspect of our business – from product development and team training to managing processes and driving continuous improvement.
Our quality system guides the way we work, providing clear standards and routines to ensure patient safety, product performance, data integrity, and compliance with global regulations. Regular investments and a risk-based approach help us keep raising the bar in everything we do.
We’re guided by strong values: empowering our people with the right skills and training, making decisions with integrity, and always focusing on what matters most for people with allergy. By putting quality first, we strive not only to meet expectations, but to set new standards in allergy care innovation.
