ALK is at the forefront of recombinant allergen research and was the first to characterise and describe the structures of the most important respiratory allergens. The mapping of birch allergen in 1996 was the first experimentally proven three-dimensional structure of a clinically important inhaled allergen which causes allergies in 5-10 million people worldwide. 

Its structure shows three regions on the molecular surface predicted to harbour cross-reactive B-cell epitopes, which provide a structural basis for the allergic symptoms that birch pollen allergic patients show when they encounter pollens from birch and related trees such as hazel, alder and hornbeam.

Early drug discovery
Our research activities span from early drug discovery to support of marketed products. Investigations into the mechanisms of allergic disease are helping us to develop the next generation of immunotherapy products.

When ready, successful new drug candidates from the drug discovery programme will go through the early stages of product development and on to clinical testing.