By Gary C. Yee Pharm.D.

A biotechnology drug is one that is produced using living organisms such as yeast, bacteria, or mammalian cells. Although producing drugs from living organisms is not new (several antibiotics are produced through fermentation processes using microorganisms such as yeast or fungi), modern biotechnology greatly expands the number of different drugs that can be manufactured using living organisms.

Currently, 15 biotechnology drugs are approved for use in the US. All but one are manufactured through a process called recombinant DNA technology.

In human cells, tightly coiled thread-like molecules called DNA are contained in the nucleus or control center of the cell. DNA is composed of several genes, each of which carries a blueprint for the production of a specific protein.

In recombinant DNA technology, a human gene that is capable of triggering the production of a particular protein (such as G-CSF or GM-CSF) is inserted into a living organism and cultured in the laboratory. The organism incorporates the gene into its cell structure, and begins producing large quantities of the desired protein (the drug).

Most of the drugs produced by recombinant DNA technology belong to a group of proteins called cytokines. Cytokines are proteins that help cells communicate with each other. Some, such as colony-stimulating factors, stimulate the production and/or regulate the growth and activity of various types of blood cells. Others orchestrate the immune system's response to viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms. Some do both.

The proteins (drugs) produced by recombinant DNA technology are very fragile, and can only be administered intravenously (injections into the vein) or subcutaneously (injections under skin). If taken orally, they would be destroyed by acids and enzymes in the stomach before reaching the bloodstream. They are also temperature-sensitive, and must be stored within very specific temperature ranges.

Some of the drugs now produced by biotechnology were once produced by different means. Insulin, for example, was extracted from the tissue of animals. Most, however, are not producable by other methods.

While only a few biotechnology drugs are currently approved for use in the US, many more are in human clinical trials, and others are awaiting FDA approval. Approximately one-half are being tested for use in the treatment of cancer or cancer-related conditions, and are expected to have a major impact in the future health care of cancer patients.

From;

http://www.biotech-weblog.com/50226711/more_than_400_biotechnology_drugs_and_vaccines_under_trials.php

"More than 400 Biotechnology Drugs and Vaccines Under Trials"

A new report (pdf file) from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association (PhRMA) found 418 medicines and vaccines developed through biotechnology in various stages of development to treat more than 100 diseases. The breakdown:

* 210 medicines to treat cancer

* 50 to treat infectious diseaselinks

* 44 to treat autoimmune disorders

* 22 to treat HIV Infection and related-conditions and

* 22 to treat cardiovascular diseases

The report also highlights biotech drugs such as:

* monoclonal antibodies targeting asthma, lupus and various types of cancer

* vaccines designed against AIDS and cancer

* antisense products as potential treatments for cancer and heart disease

* gene therapy testing in cancer and heart disease."

There is a pdf about this that you can download.

http://www.engelpub.com/News/download.cfm?articleid=365387&attachmentid=54139

Business Week, Dec 29, 2008, had an interesting article about memory drugs being developed.

"A half-dozen companies now have memory drugs in their research pipelines..."

for me nanotechnology is the most promising in the industry of health, it can help cure a lot of sickness even cancer, which is a great replacement for the risky chemotherapy. also it can be used in a lot of ways as well..