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 long history of ‘firsts’ include demonstrating how to manufacture allergen extracts, establishing a standardised method for large-scale manufacturing, and introducing new, more convenient treatment formulations.
A history of firsts
Explore the history of ALK
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June, 1923ALK's foundation
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June, 1949Dedicated facilities
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June, 1972A new industry standard
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June, 1978A world first
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July, 1989New owner
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June, 1990A new treatment option
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July, 1992Merger
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July, 2006First SLIT-tablet
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July, 2008New logo and name
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June, 2017Inclusion in GINA
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December, 2017New transformational growth strategy
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July, 2018Launch of sister brand
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January, 2021Entering food allergies
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January, 2023ALK turns 100 years
Decades of pushing boundaries and raising standards have placed us at the forefront of our industry, and in recent years, we have invested heavily in gathering unprecedented clinical evidence in support of the latest generation of allergy treatments – sublingual allergy immunotherapy (SLIT) tablets.
When complete, our SLIT-tablet range will cover five of the most common respiratory allergies in the world – house dust mite, grass, trees from the birch tree family, ragweed and Japanese cedar – for all relevant age groups. Our tablets for house dust mite, grass, ragweed and Japanese cedar allergies are already available in many markets and we are working hard to complete the range as quickly as possible.
In 2018, we launched a sister brand klarify.me – offering a broad range of pre-screened drug-free products and services to help people manage their allergies. The overall aim is to transform ALK into a broader-based allergy company that reaches many more people who live with allergy and asthma, and which captures a greater share of the global allergy market by offering solutions for everyone touched by allergy through a comprehensive range of products, services and resources.
From laboratory to global concern
The book about ALK was written in connection with the company's 85th anniversary in 2008.
The purpose of the book is to give the company's surroundings - current and future employees and its subsidiaries, affiliates, and society as a whole - a thorough understanding of the ALK's history. The book's main author, Professor, Dr. Phil . Kurt Jacobsen from Copenhagen Business School, was given free access to all archives by the company's management.
The book can be freely downloaded, copied and distributed.