ALK-Abelló A/S (CPH:ALK), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on allergy and allergic asthma, announced on Wednesday that it is working with the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to help ease the shortage of adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) currently affecting allergy sufferers in the UK.

Reportedly, in response to a request from the Department of Health and Social Care, ALK has supplied additional stability data for its Jext AAI, enabling the MHRA to approve an extension of the use of specific batches of Jext that are currently in circulation by up to four months beyond the labelled expiry date.

AAIs are used for the emergency treatment of severe acute allergic reactions, which can be triggered by exposure to certain foods, or by exposure to the venom from bee or wasp stings.

The current shortage has been caused by supply issues involving another AAI product and is affecting several markets around the world. As a result, demand for alternative products such as Jext has increased greatly.

According to ALK, there are an estimate over 100,000 Jext pens currently in circulation in the UK, which will soon expire. Extending the use of some of these beyond the labelled expiry date is expected to ease pressure on AAI demand by postponing the need for patients who already have pens from seeking to replace them while supplies remain limited.

Also, ALK is working with the Department of Health and Social Care to communicate with UK prescribers, pharmacists and patients about which specific batches of Jext are covered by the MHRA's approval. These are listed on www.jext.co.uk. Alternatively, anyone in the UK who wishes to check the status of their Jext pen can do so by consulting their doctor or pharmacist.