Our Research
We are asking the questions that haven't been fully explored before. A) What are the safety concerns around consuming animal-derived ingredients in medications B) Is a world of animal-free medications possible? C) How does a patient access transparent information around drug excipients?
...and many more!
Our research has bolstered patient safety and inclusion. We are grateful to collaborate with some of the leading experts and institutions in the industry.
See references at the bottom of this page
Our research impacts patient preferences
We authored a state-of-the-art peer-reviewed publication showcasing¹:
of medications contain an animal-derived ingredient
75%
Collaborators:
Our research impacts medication transparency
2,3
In these publications we found:
The accuracy from a Medical Information department is expected to be 100%, but this is not always the case.
Collaborators:
40%
of the top pharmaceutical companies were unable to provide an accurate response regarding if their product contains animal-derived ingredients
ONE
Out 40 manufacturers, only
animal-free atorvastatin exists despite it being the top prescribed medication.
Our research impacts Alpha-gal Syndrome⁴ ⁵
Our research shows:
,
50%
of Alpha-gal patients had an anaphylactic reaction to alpha-gal containing health products
92%
of Alpha-gal patients had to modify their medications due to their diagnosis
20%
of patients with Alpha-gal Syndrome engage in social media discussions about medications, while 22% discuss food in a similar context
Percentage of alpha-gal patients who reacted to mammalian-derived ingredients/products
Collaborators:
References
(1) Tieu L, Uchi J, Nguyen Y, et al. Embracing Medication Needs of Patients based on Ethical, Dietary, and Religious Preferences. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. 2022 October; 18(3): 351–363.
(2) Son F, Wolfe A, Uchi J, et al. Patient Experience With Pharmaceutical Medical Information Centers To Identify Animal-Free Medications. Journal of Contemporary Pharmacy Practice (2023); 70 (2a): 8–11
(3) Commins, S. P., Uchi, J., & Shah, S. A. Animal-derived ingredients in medicines: A call to action. DIA Global Forum. (2024, March)
(4) Uchi, J., Commins, S.P., Wilson, J., et al. "Understanding Health Related Challenges in Patients with Alpha-Gal Syndrome." Poster presentation at the DIA Global Annual Meeting, June 2023.
(5) Shek, A., Watkins, R., et al. "Frequency of Medication Related Discussions Within Alpha-Gal Social Media Groups" Poster presentation at the American College of Cardiology Conference, April 2024.