BIOLOGICS

OVERVIEW1,2

Biologics are a group of medications derived from large-scale cell cultures of bacteria, yeast, or plant/animal cells. They include products such as vaccines, blood components, allergenics, somatic cells, gene therapy, tissues, and recombinant therapeutic proteins, and are synthesized from sugars, proteins, nucleic acids, or living entities such as cells and tissues. Unlike other medications, which are typically ‘small molecules’ manufactured synthetically or purified from plants, biological products are primarily proteins purified from living cultures or blood.


IMPLICATIONS IN CANCER3


Biological products are novel cancer therapies designed to selectively target cancer cells while aiming to minimize side effects. These treatments function by either directly attacking cancer cells or enhancing the immune system’s ability to target cancer. With precision medicine gaining traction, biologics are increasingly becoming popular as targeted therapies. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) detects new mutations in cancer cells, while biologics target the genetic aberrations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes.

 

Relevant Targets

  1. Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER). What are Biologics? Questions and Answers. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed on Mar 2024.
  2. World Health Organization. Biologicals. Accessed on Mar 2024.
  3. Papież MA, et al. Biological Therapies in the Treatment of Cancer-Update and New Directions. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(21):11694.
  4. Abbvie Pipeline. Solid Tumors. Accessed on Mar 2024.