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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%

harvard law school logo

Collaborators: 

gilead logo
HAF logo
american college of lifestyle medicine logo
animal-derived ingredients and animal-free alternatives

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: 

UNC logo
UOP logo

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: 

UNC logo
CNU logo
BMS logo
Alpha gal information logo
UVA logo
University of kentucky logo
UOP logo

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.

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