ALK-Abelló

Regulatory Filings • Jul 14, 2011

Summary: ALK enters into an agreement with AllerQuest to develop and market a
new and unique diagnostic product for penicillin allergy. With the agreement
ALK receives exclusive global commercial rights for the product that will
complement PRE-PEN® currently licensed from AllerQuest and marketed by ALK in
the USA.

Copenhagen, 2011-07-14 11:32 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

ALK and AllerQuest have entered into an agreement to develop and market a new
diagnostic product for penicillin allergy. The new product - Minor Determinant
Mixture (MDM) - currently being developed by AllerQuest will complement
PRE-PEN® and provide for a complete and unique penicillin allergy diagnosis.

Currently, PRE-PEN® is used in the USA in combination with other diagnostic
products to ensure a complete test of penicillin allergy patients. The
availability of MDM is expected to improve and to enhance diagnosis of
penicillin allergy significantly and simplify the testing procedure with an
easy to use uni-dosed kit for all kinds of clinics and hospitals.

Millions of patients believe they are allergic to penicillin. However, it is
estimated that only approximately one in ten of these patients is actually
allergic. If not diagnosed properly, patients who believe to be allergic to
penicillin will be treated with broad spectrum antibiotics. Improved diagnosis
can limit the use of broad spectrum antibiotics, thereby lowering treatment
costs and the risk of developing multi drug resistant bacteria.

At present, ALK distributes PRE-PEN® in the USA. PRE-PEN® is developed by the
US based company AllerQuest. “PRE-PEN® has been acknowledged by allergy
specialists to be a valuable diagnostic product. With the new product we will
be able to offer an even more comprehensive and more simple test for all
penicillin allergies to the benefit of both patients and the health care
system,” says President and CEO Jens Bager, ALK.

Currently, PRE-PEN® is not registered and marketed in Europe. The combination
of PRE-PEN® and the new diagnostic product (MDM) will have global market
potential. As with PRE-PEN®, ALK will become exclusive distributor with global
rights.

In total, ALK will pay up to USD 3.45 million for the exclusive distribution
rights to MDM as well as the extension of the exclusive distribution rights of
PRE-PEN®. Payments will be made in several instalments linked to the successful
development and market launch of MDM. The clinical development programme is
expected to be concluded in 2012 after which a registration application will be
submitted to the US health authorities, the FDA.

This announcement does not change ALK's financial expectations for 2011.

                             ALK-Abelló A/S

                               Jens Bager
                            President and CEO

For further information please contact:
Jens Bager, President and CEO, tel. +45 4574 7576

About PRE-PEN®
PRE-PEN® is a diagnostic product for penicillin allergy. PRE-PEN® is the only
FDA approved skin test for the diagnosis of penicillin allergy. It is developed
by AllerQuest and distributed by ALK. At the moment, PRE-PEN® is only available
in the USA. 30 million Americans believe they are allergic to penicillin.
Further information is available at www.pre-pen.com.

About AllerQuest
AllerQuest's mission is to develop skin test reagents to safely and accurately
identify patients who are at risk for potentially life-threatening reactions to
penicillin antibiotics. The company strives to ensure a reliable source of high
quality test reagents to assist physicians in the diagnosis of penicillin
allergy. Further information is available at www.allerquest.com.

About ALK
ALK is a research-driven global pharmaceutical company focusing on allergy
prevention, diagnosis and treatment. ALK is the world leader in allergy
immunotherapy - a unique treatment of the underlying cause of allergy. The
company has approximately 1,700 employees with subsidiaries, production
facilities and distributors worldwide. ALK has entered into partnership
agreements with Merck and Torii Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. to commercialise
allergy immunotherapy tablets in North America and Japan, respectively. The
company is headquartered in Hørsholm, Denmark, and listed on the NASDAQ OMX
Copenhagen A/S. Find more information at www.alk-abello.com.

Investor Relations: Per Plotnikof, mobile +45 2261 2525
Press: Martin Barlebo, mobile +45 2064 1143