SIRUM (organization)
| Company type | Non-profit social enterprise |
|---|---|
| Industry | Healthcare, Pharmaceutical redistribution |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Adam Kircher, George Wang, Kiah Williams |
| Headquarters | Palo Alto , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Redistribution of surplus pharmaceuticals |
SIRUM (Supporting Initiatives to Redistribute Unused Medicine) is a non-profit social enterprise established in 2009 by Stanford students Adam Kircher, George Wang, and Kiah Williams. Headquartered in Palo Alto, the organization addresses medicine waste across the U.S. by reallocating surplus, unexpired pharmaceuticals to safety-net clinics and comparable entities. SIRUM stands as the nation’s largest distributor of excess medication.
Background
Annually, $5 billion worth of viable medications are discarded in the United States, while one-quarter of adults face challenges affording their prescriptions. Non-adherence to prescribed drugs contributes to roughly 131,000 deaths each year and incurs costs up to $528 billion. The disposal of $11 billion in usable drugs not only wastes resources but also negatively impacts the environment and fuels unnecessary pharmaceutical production.
The majority of excess medications come from healthcare providers, long-term care institutions, manufacturers, and wholesalers. These unused medicines remain within regulated institutional environments, preserving their safety and efficacy. Redirecting this surplus can assist patients unable to afford medications while minimizing waste and associated expenses.
Operations
SIRUM leverages technology to link surplus pharmaceuticals with individuals in need. It supplies “recycling” containers to donors such as licensed pharmacies and long-term care facilities, who prepare unopened, unexpired medications for shipment to community partners including nonprofit pharmacies, drug repository programs, and safety-net providers. These partners then distribute the medicines directly to patients. The organization’s digital platform oversees logistics, documentation, and shipping processes, offering a more efficient alternative to medication disposal.
Operating under Good Samaritan laws in 44 states, SIRUM benefits from legal protections and regulatory frameworks that support medicine donation and redistribution efforts, including drug repository initiatives.
Impact
By December 2024, SIRUM has redistributed pharmaceuticals valued at $280 million, facilitated upwards of 40,000 donations via its platform, and enabled access to essential medications for over 300,000 uninsured or underinsured individuals.
History
Originating in California with a connection between a nursing home donor and a recipient facility in Santa Clara County, SIRUM expanded its reach to multiple states starting in 2014.
In 2015, SIRUM became part of the startup accelerator Y Combinator and received media attention from the New York Times. It was honored in 2019 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the EPA for innovation in global waste reduction. Featured on the TED Conference mainstage in 2020, SIRUM was also chosen as a recipient of funding from the Audacious Project for its goal to redistribute $772 million worth of prescription drugs to one million patients.