Animal products in pharmaceuticals play a role as both active and inactive ingredients, the latter including binders, carriers, stabilizers, fillers, and colorants. Animals and their products may also be used in pharmaceutical production without being included in the product itself.
The religious, cultural, and ethical concerns of patients and the disclosure of animal ingredients in pharmaceuticals are a growing area of concern for some people. These would include people who abide by veganism ("vegans"), the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products. Vegan medicines are medications and dietary supplements that do not have any ingredients of animal origin. The vegan status can be determined either through self-proclamation of the company or certification from a third-party organization, such as The Vegan Society or PETA.
Desire for ingredient information.
There is public interest in knowing whether medications and supplements contain animal-sourced ingredients. In a study of 100 people, 84% reported not knowing that several medications contained ingredients derived from animal sources. Nearly 63% of the people wanted their physicians, and 35% of the people wanted other healthcare providers (pharmacists, nurses), to notify them when using such medications. Alternatives exist for many animal-derived ingredients, and healthcare providers are increasingly incorporating awareness around animal-free drugs in their medical practice.
A 2013 study in the "BMC Medical Ethics" contacted branches of six of the world's largest religions. Of the six religions contacted, respondents from three did not accept or approve of the use of animal products in pharmaceuticals. The authors concluded that: ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;Similarly, a 2014 "BMJ" analysis on the topic discussed the lack of information about ingredients available to doctors. According to the article, "Most medications prescribed in primary care contain animal derived products" and "Disclosure of animal content and excipients would help patients make an informed personal choice"
Active ingredients in drugs and dietary supplements.
Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) utilizes approximately 1,000 plant species and 36 animal species. Animal ingredients in TCM include animal parts such as tiger bones, rhino horns, deer antlers, and snake bile. The use of animal parts in TCM have been definitively linked to the extinction of wildlife. One example of this link is the pangolin trade, which has led the pangolin to be called the world's "most trafficked mammal." In 2020, pangolin scales were removed from the Chinese list of ingredients approved for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Homeopathic medicine.
Homeopathic medicine is made of plants, minerals, or animal parts. Oscillococcinum, a remedy purported to reduce cold and flu like symptoms, is made of duck heart and liver. There is also use of insects in homeopathic medicine, such as Blatta orientalis, a type of cockroach which has been studied by homeopaths for anti-asthmatic effects.
Animal use during product development or production.
A separate issue is the use of testing on animals as a means of initial testing during drug development, or actual production. Guiding principles for more ethical use of animals in testing are the Three Rs first described by Russell and Burch in 1959. These principles are now followed in many testing establishments worldwide.
Cow blood is used in vaccine manufacture. Microorganisms for vaccine manufacture are grown under controlled conditions in liquid solutions ("media") which provide the nutrients necessary for growth. These can include cow plasma. Chicken eggs are used in the production process of some vaccines. For influenza vaccination there are non-egg alternatives.
References.
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