Today, ALK and Novozymes have signed an agreement regarding industrially
produced allergens, also called recombinant allergens, for use in ALK's future
allergy immunotherapy tablets.
Under the agreement, Novozymes will initially develop processes for recombinant
production of cat allergen on an industrial scale. An estimated 50 million
people in Europe and the USA suffer from cat allergy, which makes it the second
most common indoor allergy, after house dust mite allergy.
ALK retains exclusive product rights and will carry out clinical development,
registration and subsequent marketing and sales of the future allergy
immunotherapy tablets. Novozymes will provide know-how and manage the
production of recombinant allergens.
ALK's allergy vaccines treat the actual cause of allergy by exposing the
patient's immune system to controlled doses of the same protein substances that
trigger the allergic reaction. These proteins are called allergens, and at
present they are produced in a complicated process based on natural raw
materials.
Conversely, recombinant allergens are produced by the use of genetically
engineered microbes. One of the advantages of recombinant production is the
possibility of easy up-scaling which makes the production of allergy vaccines
less dependent on the supply of natural raw materials.
The agreement does not change ALK's financial outlook for 2009.
ALK-Abelló A/S
Jens Bager
President and CEO
For further information please contact:
Jens Bager, President and CEO, tel. +45 4574 7576
Investor Relations: Per Plotnikof, tel +45 4574 7527, mobile +45 2261 2525
Press: Jacob Frische, tel +45 4574 7551, mobile +45 2224 7551
