As pioneers in the field of allergy, ALK has a rich history that spans over a century to when our company was founded in 1923. Today, our focus remains unchanged: to help people living with allergies. With a team of 2800 dedicated employees, ALK now operates in nearly 50 countries.

From your organization's perspective, what is the biggest challenge facing pharmacy and/or the health-care system?

It takes a long time for patients with allergic rhinitis to get diagnosed with the root cause of their allergy and seek HCP care.

How can we work together to overcome this challenge?

We would like to work with CPhA to increase awareness of allergic rhinitis (AR) treatment options, including desensitization option with allergy immunotherapy, and define how pharmacists can help with allergic rhinitis patients.

What is your organization currently working on that would be of interest to the broader pharmacy community?

ALK specialises in allergy immunotherapy (AIT) – a unique treatment, which not only reduces allergic symptoms but also treats the underlying cause of a specific allergy. We would like to work with the pharmacists to raise awareness that there are 3 main management approaches to allergic rhinitis: allergen avoidance, symptomatic treatment and desensitization with AIT. AIT works to address the root cause of allergic rhinitis, which is triggered by abnormal immunologic responses to various natural substances. Patient-specific allergens are introduced in controlled doses under medical supervision to induce immunologic tolerance. It is the only disease-modifying therapy for AR. AIT is administered to patients as sublingual tablets or subcutaneous injections.

Why does your organization belong to CPhA as an Organizational Affiliate?

Pharmacists are often the first to consult patients on allergic rhinitis treatment options. We would like to work with CPhA to optimize AR patient care.

ALK has been a member of the Organizational Affiliate program since September 2024. Learn more on their website at www.alk.net/ca.