FAU Expired Drug Initiative

FAU’s Expired Drug Initiative (FAU-EDI)

Currently, expired drugs in Germany are mainly disposed of with household waste and then incinerated. Expired drugs that are collected in pharmacies and at recycling centers also end up in waste incineration via the relevant landfill sites.

In a research initiative funded by Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt (DBU), we – Prof Dr Markus Heinrich’s research group at FAU’s Pharmaceutical Chemistry – are investigating the recovery of research chemicals from expired drugs.

Existing drugs may not be reintroduced into circulation as medicinal products for humans or animals. However, the recovered chemicals can be used for research or training at universities and technical colleges. For example, known active ingredients are often used in the pharmaceutical sector to develop new active ingredient candidates. Pharmacy students use the active ingredients in their practical courses to familiarise themselves with modern analytical methods. For these and other areas of application, research chemicals recovered from discarded pharmaceuticals can represent a sensible and cost-effective alternative.

A YouTube video created for the ‘Woche der Umwelt’ (‘Environment Week’) provides a brief insight into our Expired Drug Initiative.