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helvella - A pig by any other name

The USA FDA's main website for medicine information for patients (basically, it contains the same sort of information as the UK's Patient Information Leaflets and Summary of Product characteristics) has changed its wording for desiccated thyroid products.

The term that has been used since the early days of desiccated thyroid has been "Porcine".

The term now used is "Sus scrofa".

That is, the formal scientific name for pigs.

This ensures other pig species are excluded. Such as warty pigs and various other pig/pig-like and related species that are otherwise classified. Sus domesticus - commonly used for domesticated species of pig - is sometimes considered a subspecies of Sus scrofa. That appears to be the case here.

It is not clear whether this is simply a matter of tightening up language to ensure precision and accuracy, or if other species have been, or could be, found in desiccated thyroid.

At time of writing, not all desiccated thyroid products have been changed.

Link to the Wiki article on the Sus genus, in case you wish to explore the issues further.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sus_(genus)

The FDA's ingredient database lists the following terms:

THYROID

UNII: 6RV024OAUQ
    Preferred Substance Name: THYROID

    8028-36-2
    ARMOUR THYROID
    GLANDULA THYREOIDEA SUIS
    PIG THYROID
    PORCINE THYROID
    PORK THYROID
    SUS SCROFA THYROID
    THYREOIDEA SUIS
    THYROID (PORK)
    THYROID [USAN]
    THYROID, PORCINE
    THYROID, PORK
    THYROIDINUM (SUIS)

    THYROIDINUM SUIS

https://precision.fda.gov/uniisearch/srs/unii/6RV024OAUQ

[i][b]helvella - A pig by any other name[/b]

A brief explanation of the use of the term Sus scrofa in place of Porcine with respect to desiccated thyroid medicines.

Last updated 10/02/2025[/i]

Link to blog:

https://helvella.blogspot.com/p/helvella-pig-by-any-other-name.html

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