What is alpha-gal syndrome?
Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), or mammalian meat allergy, is a serious allergic reaction to galactose-α-1,3-galactose—a sugar molecule called alpha-gal—found in most non-primate mammals (e.g., cow, pig, sheep, venison, rabbit).
Most people develop AGS after a tick bite, which triggers the immune system to produce IgE antibodies against alpha-gal. Reactions can be immediate (e.g., from medications with mammalian ingredients) or delayed—often 2 to 10+ hours after eating red meat or other mammalian products.
Pill Clarity helps both patients with AGS and healthcare professionals caring for them every day, providing guidance on alpha-gal friendly health products.
450K
20%
people in the United States have alpha-gal syndrome ¹
See references below
Key Statistics:
50%
of AGS patients reported anaphylactic reactions to alpha-gal containing health products ²
92%
of AGS patients had to modify their medications due to their diagnosis ²
of AGS patients discuss medication challenges on social media (similar to frequency of food related discussions) ³
For Healthcare Providers
If you’re a healthcare provider looking to better support patients with alpha-gal syndrome, visit our HCP page for tailored guidance and resources.
Tick bite
Weeks to month
Consume mammalian meat, dairy, gelatin, or other mammal-derived products
Hours
and/or
Hives, itching, swelling, and/or anaphylaxis
Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and/or anaphylaxis
Alpha-gal Reaction Pathway
Geographic Spread of Tick Species Associated with Alpha-gal Syndrome
Adapted from McGill SK et al., Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021, and Alpha-gal Information (AGI).
Frequently Asked Questions about AGS
75%
of medications contain an animal-derived ingredient ⁴
39%
DailyMed
of excipient listings are inconsistent ⁵
50%
Manufacturers
of ingredient inquiries go unanswered ⁶
85%
of cases: a suitable alternative identified
Pill Clarity
10k+
AGS patients helped through our free medical information service
Medications and Alpha-gal
Resources for Alpha-gal Patients
A directory of pharmacies partnered with Pill Clarity to help patients find safe, allergen-free medications.
Key mammal-derived ingredients to watch for in everyday products.
Find alpha-gal–friendly meal options with PlantStrong, plus get 15% off with code ALPHAGAL15.
A list of alpha-gal syndrome websites and Facebook support groups for more information and community.
Alpha-gal Syndrome: Talks and Insights
References
¹Emerging Tick Bite-Associated Meat Allergy Potentially Affects Thousands: Many healthcare providers not familiar with allergic condition. CDC, Jul 2023.
²Uchi, 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.
³Shek, 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.
⁴Commins, S. P., Uchi, J., & Shah, S. A. Animal-derived ingredients in medicines: A call to action. DIA Global Forum. (2024, March)
⁵Kinsella L, et al. Inconsistent excipient listings in DailyMed. Springer Nature, 2024.
⁶Son FS, et al. Journal of Contemporary Pharmacy Practice, 2023.