Our company (new) | ALK

Our company

At ALK, we are pioneers in allergy with more than a century of experience under our belt.
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Our strategy
Our leadership
Our history
Corporate governance

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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We’re on a purposeful mission

Allergy is a widespread, chronic disease impacting and challenging the lives of millions of adults and children globally every day. In fact, it is estimated to affect one in four people in the industrialised world.

Want to join us? Learn more about working at ALK here
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

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.


 

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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.

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    Peter Halling, President & CEO*

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    Claus Steensen Sølje, CFO*

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Henriette Mersebach, EVP Research & Development*

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    Søren Niegel, EVP Commercial Operations North America (interim)

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    Flora Beiche-Scholz, EVP Commercial Operations Europe

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    Lika Thiesen, EVP Global People & Organisation

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    Christian G. Houghton, EVP Product Supply

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

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    Jan Engel Jensen, SVP Global Quality

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Owners

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.

Read more about the Lundbeck Foundation 

Our history: Building on more than a century of experience

Image description
 

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.

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 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.

The allergic disease


Allergy solutions


Anaphylaxis


Careers at ALK

Last updated: 18.11.2025