ALK-Abelló

ALK-Abelló A/S (omx: CSE32679 ALK B), also commonly known as ALK, is a Denmark-based pharmaceutical company which specializes in the development and manufacturing of allergy immunotherapy (AIT) products for the prevention and treatment of allergy. It is one of the world's largest makers of allergy immunotherapy products (also known as ‘allergy vaccines’)[2] with 67% of its revenue coming from sales in Europe.[3]

History

ALK-Abello dates back to 1923,[1] when Denmark's first allergen extracts were produced at the pharmacy of the Copenhagen University Hospital.[4] The company was subsequently established as Allergologisk Laboratorium København. The company has since focused on mapping the mechanisms of allergic impact on the immune system in order to develop new and improved allergy therapies.

Partnerships and collaborations

From 2006 until 2016, ALK had a strategic alliance with Merck & Co to develop and commercialize ALK's SLIT-tablet products in the United States, Canada and Mexico, granting Merck exclusive rights to develop, market and distribute the tablets for grass pollen allergy, house dust mite allergy and ragweed allergy in those markets.[14][15] In June 2016, ALK and Merck & Co announced that the partnership would end by the end of 2016.[16]

The company also has an alliance with Torii Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd to develop and commercialize ALK's house dust mite allergy immunotherapy products in Japan. The agreement covers the house dust mite SLIT-tablet, an injection-based immunotherapy product, and diagnostic products for house dust mite allergy. In addition, it established a research and development collaboration to develop a SLIT-tablet product for Japanese cedar pollen allergy.[14][17]

In China, ALK had a collaboration with Eddingpharm which covered ALK's diagnostic skin prick test for house dust mite allergy, and a subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) product, also for house dust mite allergy. Under the agreement, Eddingpharm handled sales and distribution, while ALK provided medical and scientific expertise. Announced in April 2014, the collaboration was to run for an initial seven years, provided certain performance targets were met.[18] However, the agreement was terminated by ALK in 2016, in favor of a collaboration with a new distributor.[19]

ALK also has had a collaboration with Abbott covering Russia and selected emerging markets, under which Abbott gained rights to distribute and commercialize ALK's SLIT-tablets for grass, ragweed, tree and house dust mite allergies.[20] The agreement with Abbott was expanded in 2016, and allowed Abbott until the end of the collaboration in 2017 to register and sell ALK's house dust mite SLIT-tablet in seven markets in South-East Asia: Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.[21]

ALK also signed a collaboration with bioCSL (now name Seqirus) covering Australia and New Zealand which grants it exclusive rights to promote and sell ALK's SLIT-tablets against house dust mite and grass pollen allergy and its adrenaline auto-injector.[22]

Timeline

1923: Doctor Kaj Baagøe and pharmacist Peter Barfod produce Denmark's first pharmaceutically manufactured allergen extract at Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet)[1] 1949: Production of allergy vaccines and diagnostics is centered at an independent unit called Allergologisk Laboratorium (Allergology Laboratory)[1] 1972: The technique to accurately identify the proteins that provoke allergies in individual patients is developed[1] 1976: The first standardized process for allergen extracts (DAS 76) is developed[1] 1978: The world's first standardized allergy immunotherapy product is launched[1] 1984: ALK begins a period of global expansion by establishing a presence in several new markets and through strategic acquisitions[1] 1990: The world's first product for sublingual immunotherapy drops (SLIT-drops) (droplets administered under the tongue) is launched[1] 1990: The PAT (Preventative Allergy Treatment) study is initiated in collaboration with leading European allergy specialists. The study finds that allergy immunotherapy decreases the risk of the development of asthma in children with allergic rhinitis[1] 1992: ALK acquires Alergia e Immunologia Abello S.A. (Abello), a Spanish company based in Madrid (with additional locations in Italy and Germany), its largest competitor at the time. Abello Pharmaceuticals was founded in 1925 by pharmacist Juan Abello Pascual and specialized in manufacturing oxygen- and alkaline-based therapeutics as well as synthetic hormones, among other processes and products. 2000: Acquires Center Laboratories, one of the leading suppliers of allergenic extracts in the U.S. 2006: The world's first registered sublingual immunotherapy tablet (SLIT-tablet), for grass pollen allergy, is launched[1] 2007: An agreement is signed with Schering-Plough (which merged with Merck & Co. in November 2009) to develop, register and commercialize in North America a portfolio of SLIT-tablet treatments for grass, ragweed and house dust mite allergy[1] 2009: The Grazax Asthma Prevention (GAP) trial, investigating the potential for preventing the development of asthma in children and adolescents is initiated.[27] 2011: A new ALK-developed adrenaline auto-injector for the treatment of acute anaphylaxis is launched[28] 2011: An agreement with Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to develop, register and commercialize a number of SLIT-tablet products in Japan is signed. The agreement also covers selected existing ALK products and diagnostics against house dust mite allergy. It also covers a research and development contract to develop a sublingual immunotherapy tablet against Japanese cedar pollen allergy.[1] 2014: The grass and ragweed SLIT-tablets are launched in the US.[29][30] 2014: ALK signs collaboration agreements with Eddingpharm for China and Abbott for Russia and selected emerging markets.[18][20] 2015: ALK signs a collaboration agreement with bioCSL (now Seqirus) covering Australia and New Zealand.[22] 2016: ALK expands its partnership with Abbott to cover seven markets in South-East Asia [21] and terminates its partnerships with Merck and EddingPharm.[19] 2016: The house dust mite SLIT-tablet is launched in Europe and Japan.[31][32]

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.[33]

2017: New transformational growth strategy. ALK launches a new strategy to reach out to more people with allergy to become a broader-based allergy company.[33]

2018: Launch of sister brand. Launch of ALK's sister brand klarify.me - offering a broad range of pre-screened products and services to help people manage their allergies.[33]

2021: Entering food allergies. ALK announces an entry into food allergy treatment and begins developing a tablet for peanut allergies.

2023: ALK turns 100 years. ALK has been a pioneer in fighting allergies for 100 years.[33]

type	Aktieselskab
traded as	omx: CSE32679 ALK B
industry	Pharmaceuticals
foundation	1923 Copenhagen‡R1R‡
founder	Kaj Hedemann Baagøe Peter Barfod
location	Hørsholm, Denmark
key people	Anders Hedegaard (Chairman) Peter Halling (CEO)
products	Acarizax, Grazax, SlitOneUltra, Alutard SQ, Jext
revenue	▲ DKK 4.824 billion (2023)
num employees	2,900 (2023)
homepage	www.alk.net

History

Corporate information

Operations

Products

Partnerships and collaborations

Sponsorships

Timeline

Research and development

External links

References