current portfolio of tablets – in ALK’s food AIT
programme.
up promotion of the tablets to other prescribers,
including ear, nose and throat, and paediatric
specialists with an interest in allergy treatment. In the
Nordic countries, a similar approach resulted in an
uptick in sales from new prescribers of AIT in Q2.
Just after Q2 ended, ALK announced an exclusive
licensing agreement with China-based pharmaceutical
company, Grandpharma, that will see ALK’s current
adrenaline autoinjector (AAI), Jext®, registered and
launched in China. Under the long-term agreement,
Grandpharma will be responsible for the registration,
import and commercialisation of Jext® in mainland
China, Macau and Taiwan, while ALK will be
responsible for product supply and will offer marketing
support based on its extensive experience in Europe
and other markets. Meanwhile, ALK’s in-house
development project for a next-generation AAI also
made positive progress, according to plan.
Sales of SCIT and SLIT-drops were up 3%, reflecting
strong growth in SCIT sales, especially in Germany
and the Nordics, as the market gradually returned to
pre-COVID activity levels in many countries. In
France, sales were still down on the impact of COVID
plus the transition of some sales to the tablets from
legacy products.
Sales of other products were up 12%, largely due to a
sales recovery for diagnostic products, with Jext®
sales seeing only modest growth on reduced pen
renewals in the UK, likely due to COVID restrictions
resulting in a perceived lower exposure to allergens.
In Q2, ALK continued its optimisation programme by
rationalising its portfolio and driving increased site
specialisation, among other initiatives. As part of this
work, for the year-to-date, ALK has submitted a total of
1,037 regulatory variations covering 95 products to 36
regulatory authorities around the world.
North America
Revenue in North America increased 33% in local
currencies to DKK 161 million (130) in Q2, as sales
recovered in response to the lifting of COVID-related
restrictions.
ALK’s strategic focus areas are underpinned by
initiatives in organisational agility and sustainability.
Over the past year, ALK has implemented a
programme to support employee engagement and
retention, covering leadership development,
connectivity, learning and development, and talent
identification. A company-wide survey in Q2 showed
that ALK now has employee engagement levels that
are above the pharmaceutical industry benchmark.
Tablet sales grew 59% and are now ahead of pre-
COVID levels in the USA. There was also continued
strong take-up in Canada. Sales of bulk SCIT products
increased 34% as patients returned to US allergy
clinics for SCIT treatments, which currently dominate
the US market.
Revenue from other products climbed 22% as sales of
non-allergy-related life science products stabilised,
and on returning PRE-PEN® sales, as hospitals
reopened for non-emergency surgeries.
Q2 SALES AND MARKET TRENDS
(Comparative figures for Q2 2020 are shown in brackets.
Revenue growth rates are stated in local currencies, unless
otherwise indicated)
International markets
Revenue in International markets fell by 15% in local
currencies to DKK 86 million (102) which reflected the
phasing of shipments to the most important markets of
China and Japan, where strong in-market sales growth
was nevertheless reported. In China, the in-market
growth was attributable to salesforce expansion and
the benefits of ALK’s salesforce excellence
programme. In Japan, ALK’s partner Torii continued to
see strong in-market sales growth from MITICURETM
five years after the product’s introduction.
Revenue by geography
DKKm
Q2-
2021
621
161
86
Share of
revenue
72%
Q2-
2020
540
130
102
Growth*
14%
Europe
North America
Int’l markets
33%
-15%
13%
18%
10%
100%
Revenue
868
772
* In local currencies
Europe
CEDARCURETM also performed well ahead of the
forthcoming Japanese cedar allergy season. For the
full year, ALK expects revenue growth from this region
of more than 10%.
Revenue in Europe increased by 14% in local
currencies to DKK 621 million (540). As expected,
planned product discontinuations are now having a
negligible impact on growth.
Tablets continued to be the primary driver of growth
during Q2, up 27% with ITULAZAX® leading the way
and a strong performance from GRAZAX®. This
growth was further supported by the ongoing shift in
favour of evidence-based allergy medicines, and by
market share gains, especially in Germany, which is
becoming ALK’s largest single market. The gradual
easing of COVID restrictions also allowed ALK to ramp
Page 4 of 15
Company release No 16/2021 – 11 August 2021
ALK-Abelló A/S – Bøge Allé 6-8 – DK-2970 Hørsholm – Denmark – www.alk.net
Tel +45 4574 7576 – CVR No 63 71 79 16 – LEI code: 529900SGCREUZCZ7P020