What alternatives exist for medication derived from animals?
The evolution from biological drug therapies to predominantly synthetic products used today provides clinical alternatives for those with religious or cultural issues with drugs of animal origin: Today both fractioned and unfractioned low-molecular weight heparins remain a widely prescribed therapy. Where alternatives exist, the patient could be offered the choice of synthetic product or product not derived from cow and pigs, to meet their religious or other personal preference. More information on drugs of pork origin is available in the Drugs of Porcine Origin booklet at: http://www.medicines-partnership.org/our-publications/drugs-of-porcine-origin The Canadian Diabetes Association has identified alternative insulins for use in Canada.
