Copenhagen, 2011-11-10 14:57 CET (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

ALK's partner in North America, Merck, today hosts its R&D and Business
Briefing at its corporate headquarters in New Jersey, USA. During the event,
members of Merck's senior management will detail the company's research
strategy, showcase candidates from the R&D pipeline and provide an update of
the business progress.

At the business briefing, Merck presents an update on the AIT development
programmes in North America and discloses the anticipated filing dates of Grass
AIT and Ragweed AIT in the USA. Merck currently expects to file registration
applications with the US health authorities, the FDA, in 2013 for both
products.

Merck and ALK have a strategic partnership to develop, register and
commercialise a combined portfolio of tablet based allergy immunotherapies
against grass, ragweed and house dust mite allergy in North America.

This announcement does not change ALK's outlook for the financial year 2011.

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: Martin Barlebo, tel. +45 4574 7901, mobile +45 2064 1143

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 1,750 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.

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