MedHugs announces a physician-founded oral thin film vitamin strip platform designed to address pill swallowing difficulties affecting 1 in 6 Americans.
— MedHugs Identifies Systemic Gap in Supplement Delivery
Approximately 1in 6 Americans struggles to swallow pills or capsules. This challenge spans multiple populations, including children who gag on tablets, elderly patients managing multiple medications, cancer patients in recovery, pregnant women experiencing nausea, and post surgical patients unable to tolerate solid dosage forms.
Across these groups, traditional supplement delivery has remained largely unchanged for decades, relying on tablets and capsules regardless of accessibility limitations.
Clinical Experience Leads to Identification of Care Gap
MedHugs founder Dr. Dharmdev Joshi encountered the issue directly in a personal and clinical context.
When his niece Raaji was born prematurely, she was underweight and at risk of iron deficiency anemia, a condition requiring consistent nutritional supplementation. Although iron supplementation was prescribed, she was unable to swallow pills or capsules, and liquid formulations also caused distress. She later developed iron deficiency anemia, and her growth was affected.
“I stood at her bedside and felt completely helpless, not as her uncle, but as a physician,” said Dr. Joshi. “I knew exactly what her body needed. I could not find a format she could actually take.”
That experience became the foundation for MedHugs.
Physician Network Study Highlights Format, Not Motivation, as Primary Barrier
Dr. Joshi, an orthopedic surgeon with eight years of clinical experience and research contributions at Johns Hopkins University and Massachusetts General Hospital, identified the issue as part of a broader systemic pattern rather than an isolated case.
MedHugs conducted structured discussions with more than 400 physicians across primary care, internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, and obstetrics.
Findings indicated that supplement non-adherence is primarily driven by delivery format limitations rather than patient motivation.
Key barriers identified included difficulty swallowing large tablets and capsules, gastrointestinal side effects associated with certain supplements such as iron, zinc, magnesium, and B vitamins, inconsistent adherence due to travel or disrupted routines, lack of age appropriate formulations for pediatric patients transitioning from liquid supplements, and pill fatigue among elderly patients managing multiple medications.
“The problem is not efficacy,” Dr. Joshi said. “The problem is that patients cannot actually take the product. The industry has treated that as unavoidable.”
Oral Thin Film Technology Applied to Nutritional Delivery
MedHugs developed oral thin film vitamin strips using a delivery format already established in pharmaceutical applications.
The strips dissolve on the tongue within seconds without the need for water or swallowing. Active ingredients are absorbed through the oral mucosa, providing an alternative pathway to gastrointestinal absorption.
Each strip is manufactured to deliver a verified and precise dose of nutrients using pharmaceutical-grade standards. The company emphasizes consistency in dosage as a key differentiator from conventional supplement formats.
“We apply pharmaceutical manufacturing rigor,” Dr. Joshi said. “Each strip delivers a tested and precise dose. That level of consistency is not standard in the supplement category.”
The format also reduces dependency on storage and routine adherence patterns, as individual strips can be carried easily without bottles.
Clinical Background and Product Development Framework
Dr. Joshi’s background includes clinical experience in orthopedic surgery and research contributions at Johns Hopkins University and Massachusetts General Hospital. He also completed management training at IIM Ahmedabad and is pursuing an MBA in Hospital Administration at BITS Pilani.
MedHugs currently produces oral thin film formulations across multiple nutrient categories, including Vitamin D3, Vitamin B12, Iron, Folate, Magnesium, and multivitamin products.
The products are manufactured using food-safe polymers, third-party verified ingredients, and without artificial fillers or compaction agents.
A physician advisory network supports ongoing formulation development and clinical prioritization based on observed patient adherence challenges.
Expansion Pathway Toward Pharmaceutical Applications
While currently operating in the nutraceutical sector, MedHugs is developing its oral thin film platform for potential pharmaceutical applications.
“Oral thin film delivery has been used in clinical settings for critical medications,” Dr. Joshi said. “We have built manufacturing capability and validation frameworks in nutrition. The next step is clinical scale pharmaceutical applications.”
The company has completed foundational research for expansion into pharmaceutical grade oral thin film products. Further development depends on investment and regulatory pathways.
Patient Driven Origin of MedHugs
Raaji, whose case originally inspired the development of MedHugs, has since recovered.
“I ask with every formulation whether I would give this to Raaji or prescribe it to a patient,” Dr. Joshi said. “If the answer is anything less than yes, the formulation is revised.”
Award Recognition for Oral Thin Film Innovation
MedHugs has been recognized by the Evergreen Awards as the Best Oral Thin Film Vitamin Brand in the United States of 2026, reflecting the company’s physician-founded approach to improving supplement accessibility through fast-dissolving oral thin film technology.
About MedHugs
MedHugs is a U.S.-based wellness startup developing oral thin film vitamin strips designed to improve supplement adherence through convenient, fast-dissolving delivery formats. Founded by physician and entrepreneur Dr. Dharmdev Joshi, the company focuses on simplifying daily nutrition by offering an alternative to traditional pills, capsules, and gummies, particularly for individuals who struggle with swallowing or maintaining consistent supplement routines. More information about the company and its product direction can be found at medhugs.com.
MedHugs also maintains an active digital presence to share updates and educational content about preventive wellness and oral thin film innovation. The company engages with its audience through Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok and LinkedIn, while founder Dr. Dharmdev Joshi shares professional insights on healthcare innovation and clinical practice via LinkedIn. For business inquiries, MedHugs can be reached at business@medhugs.com.
Contact Info:
Name: Dr. Dharmdev Joshi
Email: Send Email
Organization: MedHugs
Website: https://medhugs.com/
Release ID: 89193604
If you detect any issues, problems, or errors in this press release content, kindly contact error@releasecontact.com to notify us (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). We will respond and rectify the situation in the next 8 hours.