Meeting the growing demand for animal-free medicines

The steadily rising proportion of Americans who devote heightened attention to their dietary intake – whether by observing vegetarian or vegan regimens, managing food allergies, or complying with religious dietary stricture – are increasingly scrutinising not just the meals they consume, but also the medicines they ingest.

Americans are particularly concerned with avoiding animal products. Indeed, a recent study published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal reported that 43.2% of respondents indicated a preference to forgo medications containing animal products, even in the absence of a suitable alternative.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers have begun, albeit tentatively, to acknowledge and respond to these evolving dietary sensibilities. Notably, in 2022, the Hamburg-based wholesaler Axunio introduced Paraveganio, the first medicinal product to receive certification from The Vegan Society, an organisation whose trademark signifies the absence of animal-derived ingredients. Paraveganio, a paracetamol formulation intended for the alleviation of pain and fever, employs a plant-based source of magnesium stearate, an ingredient often sourced from beef or pork tallow.

However, such accommodations have yet to become standard practice within the pharmaceutical industry. Even when patients explicitly request animal-free medication, prescribing patterns often fail to reflect these preferences. Indeed, the Postgraduate Medical Journal study found that 51% of men presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms were inadvertently prescribed gelatin-containing products contrary to their stated dietary requirements.

A growing number of consumers expect medications free of animal-derived products, as can be seen given projections that the vegan market will double by 2034. It is often easier for pharmaceutical companies to adapt to such consumer demands than it seems, because ingredients such as animal-derived gelatin, glycerin, and magnesium are often inactive and can be replaced by plant-based pharmaceutical-grade alternatives.

How kosher certification can help meet the needs of those avoiding animal products

In addition to seeking out certified vegan inactive ingredients, pharmaceutical companies can turn to the organisations that certify food, pharmaceuticals, and other products as kosher, complying with biblically-derived Jewish dietary restrictions. Among the central kosher restrictions are a ban on eating certain foods like shellfish, pork, and insects, as well as on mixing meat and dairy products. Many of the kosher requirements overlap with the needs of vegans and vegetarians. For example, all kosher-certified products fit into one of three clearly-marked categories: meat, dairy, or parve, meaning they contain neither meat nor dairy. This parve category also gives vegans the confidence that the product is free of any trace of animal-based ingredients, while the dairy category appeals to those who want to avoid meat, but do eat milk or cheese.

Because of these overlaps with the needs of vegans and vegetarians, more than 12 million US consumers buy kosher-certified food products each year, far exceeding the population of observant Jews. In recent years, many food brands have embraced kosher certification in order to better serve the growing market of vegans and vegetarians, with more than one million food items certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. On average, these products see sales that are 20% higher than those without kosher certification.

Pharmaceutical companies that undergo the certification process often do not need to change their formulations because active ingredients are almost always based on chemicals without any connection to animal or dairy products. Most companies simply need to find substitute inactive ingredients, often used to add colour or texture, that are certified kosher. This is also usually a straightforward process; the Orthodox Union maintains a database with millions of ingredients certified kosher, which food and pharmaceutical manufacturers have access to, making it convenient to swap things like animal-based glycerin to plant-based glycerin. When a pharmaceutical manufacturer wants to obtain kosher certification, a professional from the certificate agency helps walk them through the process, evaluating the ingredients used, the manufacturing processes and equipment, and guiding them to alternative ingredients if needed.

Pharmaceutical products that are certified kosher receive a stamp denoting that on their bottle or box, making the status clear to consumers, and are also listed in an online database that doctors and patients can reference. This gives kosher-certified products a market advantage or differentiator, especially when it comes to over-the-counter medications, where consumers have many different choices.

With the drug market growing more than 5% a year, the number of consumers who are vegans, vegetarians, or have other dietary restrictions and preferences is also certain to grow. Obtaining certifications that reflect these needs and preferences will help pharma companies remain competitive and help make more medications accessible to more people.

About the author

Rabbi Moshe Elefant is the chief operating officer of OU Kosher. As an industry expert, Rabbi Elefant oversees the certification and monthly inspection of 13,000 plants in 105 countries.