ALK Partners with AAFA to Launch New Online Resource for Allergic Patients During Allergy & Asthma Awareness Month

ROUND ROCK, Texas, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In the latest effort to educate and enable the allergic patient to take control of their disease, ALK, a leading company focusing on allergy treatment, and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) have partnered to create a unique online resource for patients.  The website, launching during May, National Asthma and Allergy Awareness month, will be the first dedicated to the importance of allergy immunotherapy.  The goal is to empower the more than 50 million people living with allergies to take action.   Anyone who lives with allergies or knows someone that does can now visit www.fightthecauseofallergy.org to learn how to do more than just live with allergies.

The website offers essential information that no other websites focusing on allergy relief have provided to date. Patients will be able to connect with physicians, scientists, and patient advocates to learn about alternative solutions.  Allergy sufferers will be able to take advantage of a unique experience as they post questions to allergy specialists, stay up-to-date on the allergy "hot topics" blog, download checklists and important questions to ask during your doctor's appointment, and so much more.

"Our hope is that we will be able to empower people living with allergies to take action towards a high quality of life despite their allergies.  We believe partnering with ALK and tapping into a wealth of knowledge from allergy experts will allow allergic patients to see that they do not have to settle," says Michael Tringale, Vice President of External Affairs for AAFA.

This is one of the largest undertakings in ALK's long history of educating allergic patients regarding immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots, as potentially the most optimal means of changing their body's response to certain allergens. Increasingly, allergy patients have been relying on medications that only treat allergy symptoms, believing it is their only option. But allergy patients should also be talking to their doctors to find out if allergy shots (immunotherapy) are a good option for them.  Allergy shots are a very effective therapy for many patients to alleviate symptoms and potentially eliminate the need for medication over the long-term.

"As a scientific leader of allergy immunotherapy, we are committed to helping improve the lives of allergic patients.  We are looking forward to interacting and educating them on all the current treatment options," says Jose. A Moreno Toscano, President of ALK, Inc.

For more information, go to www.fightthecauseofallergy.org.

About AAFA
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is celebrating its 60^th anniversary this year.  AAFA, a nonprofit organization founded in 1953 for people in the US with asthma, allergies and related conditions, is the oldest asthma and allergy patient group in the world. AAFA is dedicated to improving the quality of life for people through education, advocacy and research. For more information, visit www.aafa.org.

About ALK
ALK is a research driven, global pharmaceutical company focusing on allergy treatment, prevention and diagnosis. As the world leader in allergy immunotherapy, a treatment given to increase immunity to substances causing allergic symptoms, ALK is devoted to improving the quality of life for people with allergies by creating products that treat the cause of allergies. ALK is also committed to supporting the business of allergy by providing diagnostic tools, automation software and customized business, technical and clinical consulting services.

Media Contact
Staci Young
ALK
512.990.6008
[email protected]

SOURCE ALK