Definition and generalities
When we talk about biological drugs we want to indicate a large group of medicines that derive from, or obtained by means of, living organisms or microorganisms.
There are many biological drugs currently on the market that can be used - depending on the case - both to prevent the onset of some diseases, and to cure others.
When biologics are used to treat certain diseases, they are designed to act on specific targets, so as to obtain - to the extent possible - the greatest therapeutic efficacy associated with a reduction in potential side effects. In fact, the purpose of the use of biological drugs is to hit the areas of the body and the diseased cells and to save the healthy ones, which is not always possible with the use of "conventional" drugs. Therefore, the target of these drugs is highly specific and, for this reason, should lead to a reduction of the adverse effects deriving from the therapy.
Types of Biological Drugs
As mentioned, biological drugs constitute a large group of active ingredients deriving from living organisms, or produced through them.
Below, we will briefly describe the biological drugs most used in the treatment and prevention of various diseases.
Vaccines
Vaccines are preparations containing micro-organisms such as viruses and bacteria whose pathogenic power has been attenuated or eliminated, or which contain toxins or proteins deriving from these same micro-organisms. The purpose of administering these vaccines is to prevent the onset of dangerous infections that can lead, in turn, to the development of diseases, even potentially lethal.
Therefore, the vaccine is administered in order to obtain an immunization of the patient towards certain pathogenic microorganisms.
Among the many vaccines available today, we mention, for example, the vaccine against hepatitis B virus and the papilloma virus vaccine.
Vaccines against cancer
When we talk about cancer vaccines, on the other hand, we do not refer to biological drugs whose administration is aimed at preventing the onset of the disease (at least, not for the moment, although research is also moving in this direction), but to cure it.
More in detail, cancer vaccines consist of preparations containing immune cells taken from cancer patients, activated to specifically recognize cancer cells and cultured in vitro to then be administered to the patient.
Therefore, even in this case, it is an immunization process that is carried out to push the individual's immune system to recognize malignant cells as foreign and destroy them.
Currently, the only cancer vaccine approved in Europe is Provenge®, used in prostate cancer therapy.
Monoclonal antibodies
Monoclonal antibodies are particular types of biological drugs obtained through recombinant DNA techniques.
More in detail, monoclonal antibodies are defined as such since they are clones coming from cell lines deriving, in turn, from a single immune cell.
There are many monoclonal antibodies currently available in therapy and can be divided according to the action they perform. Therefore, we can distinguish:
- Monoclonal antibodies with anti-inflammatory action, used in the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. An example of a biological drug belonging to this group of monoclonal antibodies is infliximab.
- Monoclonal antibodies with an immunosuppressive action. These biological drugs are mainly used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and for the prevention of rejection in organ transplants. Rituximab belongs to this group of monoclonal antibodies.
- Monoclonal antibodies to antitumor action. These biological drugs are used in the treatment of some types of tumors, their target is constituted by factors or proteins fundamental for the development of the tumor mass. Drugs such as trastuzumab and cetuximab belong to this group.
In any case, for more detailed information on this subject, see the article on "Monoclonal antibodies".
Interleukins and Interferons (Cytokines)
Interleukins and interferons are particular types of proteins naturally produced by our body and, more in detail, by our immune system, in response to certain stimuli.
Some of these proteins - produced through recombinant DNA techniques - are biological drugs that are mainly used in the treatment of different types of tumors and in the treatment of hepatitis. Among the active ingredients belonging to this group, we mention interferon-alpha and interleukin-2.
Hormones
Among the different hormones that are part of the group of biological drugs, the most famous is certainly insulin. This hormone, in fact, is produced in the laboratory through recombinant DNA techniques and is administered to patients suffering from diabetes mellitus.
Cell growth factors
Cell growth factors are particular types of proteins that regulate the growth of different tissues and cells.
Some of these factors can be produced through recombinant DNA techniques and can therefore be used in the treatment of certain pathologies or conditions.
An example of growth factors obtained through the aforementioned techniques is haemopoietic growth factors, ie factors that stimulate the production of blood cells by the bone marrow. These biological drugs are normally administered to patients subjected to anticancer therapies that cause, in fact, a marked decrease in the marrow hematopoietic activity, in order to restore it.
Side effects
Being a decidedly broad group of medicines and including active ingredients that are very different from one another and with multiple mechanisms of action, it is rather difficult - if not impossible - to draw up a list of the possible side effects that may derive from the use of biological drugs.
In addition to this, the type of side effects that could occur - as well as the intensity with which they could occur - vary depending on various factors, such as: the type of biological drugs that you intend to use, the disease that you want to cure. or prevent (in the case of vaccines) the severity of the latter and the patient's state of health at the time of therapy. Not to mention, moreover, that each individual reacts to treatment with biological drugs in an individual manner, depending on the sensitivity he presents to these same medicines.
