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Biopharmaceuticals

Definition

Biopharmaceuticals are medical drugs produced using biotechnology. They include proteins (including antibodies), nucleic acids (DNA, RNA or antisense oligonucleotides) used for therapeutic or in vivo diagnostic purposes.

Analogy

Think of biopharmaceuticals as custom-made designer clothes. Just like a designer would use different materials and techniques to create a unique piece of clothing, scientists use living organisms and biotechnology to create specific drugs tailored to treat certain diseases.

Related terms

Monoclonal Antibodies: These are identical immune cells that are clones of a unique parent cell, often used in the creation of biopharmaceuticals.

Gene Therapy: This is a technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. It's another application of biotechnology in medicine.

Pharmacogenomics: This is the study of how genes affect a person's response to drugs. It combines pharmacology (the science of drugs) and genomics (the study of genes and their functions) to develop effective, safe medications and doses tailored to a person's genetic makeup.