medicine

Jasmine Uchi, PharmD

Supplied by Jasmine Uchi
Opinion

Op Ed: Jasmine Uchi of VeganMed – Hidden Animal Ingredients in Medicine Put Patients at Risk

Dr. Jasmine Uchi, is the Director of Medical Affairs and Operations at VeganMed, Inc. and an adjunct professor at the University of the Pacific’s Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy. Often referred to as the “alpha-gal pharmacist,” Dr. Uchi is recognized for her expertise in addressing Alpha-gal Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening allergy. She has made significant contributions to patient safety and health equity through her published research, which has gained attention across multiple media platforms. Additionally, Dr. Uchi is a registered pharmacist and a TEDx speaker, passionately advocating for ingredient transparency in medicine to promote safer and more inclusive healthcare practices.  In this article, she discusses the critical need for transparency regarding animal-derived ingredients in medications. The Hidden Ingredients in Our Medications: Why Pharma Must …

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Science

Scientists Develop “Superior” Plant-Based Insulin That Can Be Taken Orally

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) have used lettuce to develop plant-based insulin that could provide a cheaper and safer alternative to insulin delivered by injection. Insulin injections are currently vital for many diabetic patients, but they can cause the hormone to reach the bloodstream too quickly, resulting in low blood sugar. Additionally, clinical insulin lacks one of the three peptides found in natural insulin. Developed at UPenn’s Daniell lab, the plant-based insulin contains all three peptides, with research suggesting that it behaves very similarly to the natural hormone. It is made by blasting human insulin genes through lettuce cell walls, where they become integrated into the plant’s genome. When the lettuce has grown, it is freeze dried and ground so that it can …

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3D-printed vegan nose

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Science

Scientists Develop 3D-Printed Vegan Nose for Victims of Cancer or Accidents

Scientists at Swansea University in the UK are developing a 3D-printed vegan nose for patients who have lost their own due to cancer or an accident. Existing methods of creating new noses involve taking cartilage from patients’ ribs, which is not ideally suited as it is more brittle than that found in the nose. The procedure can also cause long-term health complications, since up to three ribs may need to be removed. Funded by medical charity The Scar Free Foundation, the new technology involves creating cartilage from nanocellulose hydrogel (a type of softwood pulp) and hyaluronic acid (a bacteria-derived ingredient often used in skin creams). This flexible material can be 3D-printed to achieve the precise shape required. The vegan cartilage is then immersed in a …

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Medical nutrition drink

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Health

Nutricia Introduces First Plant-Based Medical Nutrition Drink

Danone-owned company Nutricia has launched its first ever plant-based medical nutrition drink to cater to patients who avoid dairy. Fortimel® PlantBased Energy is a nutritionally-complete drink made from pea and soy protein. It is designed to meet the needs of patients who have malnutrition or are at risk of becoming malnourished. A recent study found that the drink is well-tolerated and significantly improves protein and energy intake. 94% of patients consumed the drinks as directed for the duration of the study, demonstrating a high level of adherence. Fortimel® PlantBased Energy is available in two flavours — Mango & Passion Fruit and Mocha. The drink will initially be introduced in the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and the Czech Republic, launching in other European countries later …

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axunio Paraveganio paracetamol

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Science

Paraveganio is World’s First Paracetamol to Carry Vegan Society Trademark 

Paraveganio is now the first medicinal product in the world to be registered with the Vegan Trademark, according to The Vegan Society. One of the most widely used painkillers in the world, it is not commonly known that paracetamol – and many other medicines – often contain animal derivatives. Paraveganio hits the market as the world’s first vegan-certified paracetamol option, helping to fight fever as well as mild to moderate pain without animal-derived ingredients. Conventional paracetamol tablets contain the flow regulator magnesium stearate – a salt of stearic acid and magnesium which can be of animal origin. The magnesium stearate in Paraveganio is taken from pure vegetable origin. Developed by German pharmaceutical company axunio, the certified vegan drug contains 500mg of the proven active ingredient …

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AMSilk vegan spider silk

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Materials

AMSilk Vegan Silk Can Prevent Infections and Post-Op Complications, Says New Study 

A new study has demonstrated that AMSilk engineered vegan spider silk coatings have the potential to prevent inflammation and reduce post-operative complications of implants. AMSilk is one of the world’s first industrial suppliers of vegan silk biopolymers, with results showing the repellence properties of its coatings reduced microbial adherence up to 99.7%.  The study, published in the MRS Communications journal, was led by Professor Thomas Scheibel, Professor of Biomaterials and Head of the Department at the University of Bayreuth, Germany. His team tested the microbe repellence of AMSilk engineered spider silk coatings on a number of silicone implant materials against bacterial strains. The results proved the vegan spider silk coatings work by creating an anti-adhesive “bioshield” thus reducing the chance of infections considerably.  Headquartered in …

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health nutrition study medicine research

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Science

Novel Concepts Develops Plant-Based “Cure” for COVID That Stops Omicron & Long Covid Symptoms

Israeli startup Novel Concepts Medical says it has made a major breakthrough in developing a plant-based treatment for COVID-19. “Our cure can stop Omicron, the COVID-19 virus, and long COVID-19 symptoms.” According to the company, the treatment is able to inhibit the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and block its connection to human cells. It is also claimed that the medicine can stop the virus’ progress, with some volunteers testing negative within 48 hours of taking it. The plant-based treatment may even have benefits for sufferers of long COVID, providing relief from several symptoms. Novel Concepts Medical says the compounds used in the medicine are safe, already approved, and eco-friendly. The company is welcoming emergency testing requests from countries worldwide. “Our cure can stop Omicron, the …

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Plant-Based Nanoparticles Antibiotic Resistance

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Science

Plant-Based Nanoparticles Can Combat Antibiotic Resistance

The use of plant-based nanoparticles has been studied by medical researchers with positive results, with the findings showing a range of applications to the pharmaceutical industry and medicine. This includes the advantages of using plant-based nanoparticles to combat antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is a major and growing concern in the medical field, with resistance caused due to excessive use of antibiotics in livestock and humans. At present, ineffective and costly drugs are used to treat antibiotic resistance, so scientists are looking at new approaches such as nanoparticles.  Nanoparticles synthesized from gold and silver have proven effective in overcoming antibiotic resistance, though they are toxic and not safe for widespread use. Turning to plant-based solutions, the researchers found nanoparticles synthesized from plants are less toxic for …

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pea-based softgel

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Health

Roquette Develops Gelatin-Free Pea-Based Softgel to Make Medications Vegan-Friendly

Roquette has created a pea-based softgel solution that can be used to make an alternative to gelatin capsules. The new launch will make it easier for companies to produce vegan-friendly medications and supplements. Made from pea starch, carrageenan, sorbitol, and a gelling agent, Roquette’s ready-to-use pharmaceutical-grade solution is called LYCAGEL™ Premix. It is fully plant-based and meets EU and US standards for both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. The solution allows manufacturers to easily make capsules with comparable characteristics to the conventional gelatin-based variety. These characteristics include strength, seal integrity, quick drying time with no stickiness, fast disintegration, and no cross-linking. The capsules also have a higher processing temperature suitability than gelatin. Animal-free pharmaceuticals Around 70% of medications contain ingredients of animal origin. Surveys suggest that …

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