We always talk about pharmaceuticals who produce our desiccated thyroid medication pills like Forest Labs (Armour) and RLC Labs (Naturethroid and Westhroid). These are also the pharmaceuticals who provide these pills to the local pharmacies we use. But there is another important link in the chain that proceeds them: American Laboratories, Inc. (ALI)
ALI is a small processing company located in Omaha, Nebraska which was established in 1967 by Mr. Jack Jackson and Mr. William Phalen. They have been making desiccated Porcine Thyroid Powder (which is an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient, API) for over 40 years, as well as 200 natural biologically derived products such as Pancreatin and Pepsin, both digestive enzymes. Their mantra is “Building trust through quality products and service.”
ALI, as a leading manufacture and supplier of enzyme and natural dried products, is also probably the only North American company to make desiccated thyroid powder. And they will explain that it’s a long and difficult product to make, but they are committed to it.
This morning, I spoke with Kenny Soejoto, the Chief Operating Officer. He explained that supply and demand has been a critical issue, and ALI will be doing everything they can to provide the quality desiccated thyroid powder to pharmaceuticals that they always have. You’ll also see a Press Release come out later today from Kenny and ALI about the issue. I’ll add it below.
The supply and demand issue is outright due to the current patient revolution, represented by STTM and other fine groups and websites, against the sole treatment of hypothyroidism with T4 meds like Synthroid by too many doctors.…and in favor of desiccated thyroid as a far better treatment. Demand has grown, and perhaps it caught them by surprise. (That is my comment, by the way, NOT ALI’s.)
Even RLC Labs states that demand for Naturethroid (due to problems with the newly formulated Armour) has quadrupled in the past few weeks. And rightly so! Thyroid patients around the world KNOW FIRSTHAND how much better desiccated thyroid treatment is over T4-only. And word is spreading.
So as we, thyroid patients on desiccated thyroid, face a shortage the next few months, take heart that everyone is working hard to bring supply back to us. 
Also see my post below concerning the bigger issue with Medco, and potential alternatives.
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Here’s the Press Release below, and it should calm any fears or panic:
August 19, 2009
To our knowledge, American Laboratories, Inc. is the only manufacturer in North America of Thyroid Products for use in Human Pharmaceuticals as an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient. We have manufactured our Thyroid products for over forty years, and we understand the importance they have to our customers and ultimately the consumer patients. Today, as well as in the future, our Thyroid products will continue to be a strategic part of our business.
Through the years, the world-wide demand for our Thyroid products, as well as our human nutritional enzyme products has increased dramatically. Through careful planning and strict adherence to regulations set forth by the FDA, USDA and other government agencies, we have implemented plans to increase our production capacities. In addition, American Laboratories’ is working closely with our suppliers to help ensure a consistent supply of quality raw materials. We hope that you understand that the process to manufacture the active ingredient takes several months to complete.
Please be assured that we have placed our Thyroid production as our number one priority so that we can meet the demands of our customers.
American Laboratories, Inc
Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 and is filed under desiccated thyroid. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Erin said:
Aug 19, 09 at 7:41 pmALI’s press release is so much more forthcoming than I expected. Kudos to them! And I fervently hope that this surge in Naturethroid users (of which I am one!) will finally make docs and pharm companies WAKE UP!!! T4 only meds suck and are damaging; not only to the body, but to the spirit. Thank you for all you do, Janie!
Anna said:
Aug 20, 09 at 12:13 amMy pharmacy is limiting refills of Nature-throid to a one month supply at a time to be fair to all customers. So even if I was willing to pay the full price and not use my insurance, I still can only buy a 30 day supply.
Mike said:
Aug 20, 09 at 11:07 amThey need to research everything that’s in natural thyroid and come out with a synthetic version that has everything the natural thyroid has in it. If it worked the same then it would be a good alternative thyroid med and they could make it faster and vegetarians would feel good about using it. Too bad it will never happen.
michele said:
Aug 20, 09 at 7:38 pmthey already have synthetic versions. they’re called syncrap and cytomel. i’m amazed at how many who seem to be concerned with their health would rather ingest a chemically produced synthetic …even though they have been found to be a poor substitute to the real deal.
Deb Raterman said:
Aug 21, 09 at 3:25 pmi finally got a script for Nature-throid from my doc today and the only pharmacy(Sam’s) in our area that had it two weeks ago are completely out of it. i had to get a generic made by Time-Cap Labs. wish we could have alerted RLC labs ahead of time
Kim said:
Aug 24, 09 at 10:13 amIf ALI is the only company making Dessicated Thyroid raw materials, then who is supplying Canada?
Does ERFA in Canada get their supply from ALI?
don carter said:
Aug 30, 09 at 12:41 pmeverything i’ve read today is good information and i am committed to voicing my opinion “to the powers that be”, such as the FDA,etc. DOES anyone have a complete list of the companies/agencies that i could write to, and or phone. either posted on this site or e-mailed to me? thanks…don
don carter said:
Aug 31, 09 at 8:49 amoops. i see the open letter to mary , has an address & phone no’s.
thanks.…don
Jean Lee said:
Nov 25, 09 at 11:15 amIt is now November 25th, and I am not able to get any natural Thyroid (not Armour, Westhroid, Natur-Throid, etc..) here in the US. ERFA in Canada does seem to have some left — I am trying to get some there.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Has anyone tried Nutri Med’s dessicated porcine thyroid? It’s over the counter.
From Janie: To compare notes with what everyone else is taking, join the Coalition for Desiccated Thyroid. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CoalitionForDesiccatedThyroid/
Linda said:
Jan 08, 10 at 7:38 pmI had managed to stock pile Armour of 30, 60, & 90 afew months back when they started releasing it to the pharmacies for a few weeks. I was lucky and it lasted me till now. My doctor perscribed a compound made with Porcine which I will be starting in the morning. I already get my female hormone pill at a compound pharmacy, so I am lucky that they make the compound thyroid as well.
I am excited to be on the right dose finally. Those of you who have tried to “cut” Armour pills know what I mean (they crumble into small pieces). I was on 1 3/4 grams but cutting them to get that amount was impossible. I gave up and just took the 1.5 grams instead. I suffered and paid for that decision so I hope that these compounded thyroid pills will get me back on track.
Is anyone else on the compounded thyroid (porcine)? If so how is it working out and do you think you have the same results as when taking Armour?
Thanks
Albert Farrens said:
Jan 25, 10 at 10:30 pmOne of my wifes doctors has told her that the shortage of porcine thyroid glands is caused by the manufacture of H1N1 vaccine using up the glands. I have not been able to find any confirmation. Does anybody know anything about this?
From Janie: just read between the lines why you haven’t been able to find confirmation.
Wendy Chan said:
Aug 28, 10 at 10:13 amI tried Armour (years ago and got sick on it), then Nature-Throid (hard to get in Chicago so I had to order from my former L.A. doctor). Now my Integrative Doctor prescribed Thyroid (Porcine) from a compounding pharmacy. I’m trying it for a month and then will see my Chinese herbalist who cautioned me about taking something for my hormonal system for so long. Suggestion: Find a holistic practitioner and do a Urine Halides test which shoed fluoride very high(from not having good filtered water when I was a kid). The thyroid med is the only Rx I take, and I want to be off it soon.
Wendy in Chicago