VeganMed, Inc.
Feb 10, 2025
Leading allergy organization reinforces the call for ingredient transparency in pharmaceuticals
The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) recently featured research conducted by our team (formerly VeganMed) at the 2025 AAAAI / WAO Joint Congress in San Diego. The study revealed an 81.9% increase in inquiries related to animal-free medications for patients with Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS), spotlighting a major gap in medication ingredient transparency.
In the press release, Dr. Cora Altomari, our lead author and medical information pharmacist, stated:
"The 3-fold increase in the number of animal-free medications inquired about reflects the challenges faced by alpha-gal syndrome patients. Because of the centralized platform at VeganMed, our team was able to help a patient with 37 medications in under 30 minutes. I encourage every healthcare provider and pharmaceutical industry to partner with us to improve patient safety."
The study analyzed 1,534 unique inquiries across 2,106 medications from 746 patients in Q1 and Q2 of 2024. Among the key findings:
Animal-free alternatives were available 79.3% of the time
Top medications inquired about included famotidine, levothyroxine, vitamin D, cetirizine, and amoxicillin
Hydrochlorothiazide, which lacks an animal-free version, was the most inquired-about drug
Only 6.1% of inquiries came from healthcare providers, underscoring the burden placed on patients
This research underscores the urgent need for increased provider awareness and full disclosure of animal-derived ingredients in medications to prevent adverse reactions, especially among patients with AGS.
Read the full AAAAI press release here.