Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Written By: Sama Ahmed

Pharmaceutical biotechnology is a relatively new field in which the principles of biotechnology are applied to the development of medications/drugs. Currently, existing processes and methods are undergoing improvements using this technology. An example of this is gene therapy of stem cells. Stem cells have the unique ability to develop into different types of cells, which is useful when regenerating and repairing damaged tissues, thus making therapeutics more effective. Biotechnology is used to genetically modify the stem cell, so it can be specialized. Also, the treatment of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis involves the use of immunosuppressant drugs to target overactive inflammatory proteins that cause the disease. These types of drugs are manipulated by biotechnology to perform specific functions.

Vaccines are defined as injections with weakened pathogens (so that your immune system is stimulated) that can develop memory cells for future encounters with the same pathogen. Biotechnology is used to formulate these vaccines to prevent infection. Biotechnology can make the pathogen harmless through genetic modification or removal of the antigen, so it does not come in contact with an antibody. Its application also leads to the production of new vaccines, improvement of existing vaccines, and an increase in the amount of vaccine produced. Genetically engineered vaccines may also be programmed to produce antiviral proteins in bacterial cells. Other examples of biotechnology in this field could include synthetic insulin and synthetic growth hormone. As well, possible applications of pharmaceutical biotechnology include the formation of immunosuppressants, vaccines, and synthetic hormones.