ALK-Abelló A/S

Imagine life without allergy

Up to a quarter of the population in the industrialized world suffers from allergy, and the number is increasing. Allergy is an overreaction of the immune response to substances that are otherwise harmless. The most common allergies are caused by airborne particles from for instance pollen or house dust mites. For people with allergy, these allergens cause chronic or seasonal respiratory conditions such as hay fever or asthma.

Allergy significantly reduces the quality of life for many people, affecting both their private and professional lives. Coping with itching eyes and a blocked nose has its costs for the individual and for society in general in terms of poorer quality of life, working days lost through sickness, and the costs of medical care and medication.

Yet, the majority of allergic patients are exclusively offered medication to relieve the symptoms of allergy; this medication does not treat the allergy itself. Moreover, most patients find that such medication has “no” to “moderate” effect on their symptoms. This is revealed by a survey conducted by the European Federation of Allergy and Airways Diseases Patients’ Associations (EFA).