Other terms for this therapy include biologics, biological therapy, biologicals, and biopharmaceuticals.
Biologic medicines are different from most pharmaceutical drugs.
They are made from a living organism instead of chemical compounds.
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Each biologic therapy works slightly differently.
This article will explain what biologic therapy is and what types are available.
It will also explain what biosimilars are and how they compare with biologics.
What Is Biologic Therapy?
Even olderinsulinderived from the pancreas of pigs is considered biologic therapy.
Generally, biologic therapy represents the latest advancements in biomedical research.
Gene-based and cellular biologic therapy may be available for various medical conditions that don’t have other treatment options.
The oldest forms of biologic therapy started with serum therapy or antitoxin therapy.
What Types of Biologic Therapy Are Available?
Some of the general classes of biologics include:
How Does Biologic Therapy Work?
Different biologic therapies have different purposes, targets, and design, and they all work a little differently.
Dont hesitate to ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about the particular biologic therapy relevant to you.
As an example, monoclonal antibodies are lab-made antibodies specifically designed to target certainantigens.
Monoclonal antibodies can target many diseases, including some kinds of cancer.
How are Biologic Therapies Different from Traditional Pharmaceutical Drugs?
This is part of why biologics are typically more expensive than non-biologic treatment alternatives.
Because the manufacturing process is so complicated, the structure of biologics may not be fully understood.
It may be difficult or impossible for another company to exactly replicate it.
Biologics are larger, more complex molecules compared to traditional pharmaceutical drugs.
Unlike traditional pharmaceuticals, they require some component from a living organism so that be manufactured.
Microbial contamination is a bigger concern with biologics than non-biologic drugs.
Biologics tend to be more sensitive to heat and light.
Often, they cannot be taken by mouth, but must be given by injection or infusion.
They have been especially important for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, cancer, and certain genetic conditions.
Rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis,key in 1 diabetes, and Crohns disease are all examples of autoimmune diseases.
Many of these particular therapies are FDA-approved to treat more than one bang out of autoimmune disease.
These drugs all block the downstream inflammatory effects of an immune molecule called TNF-alpha.
They are FDA-approved for several different autoimmune diseases.
Other biologics have been developed to block the receptors for different immune molecules.
Others were designed to target T cells, specific cells in the immune system.
Interferon beta-1a is marketed under several brand names including Avonex, Betaseron, Extavia, and Rebif.
There are many different types of these treatments.
Sometimes they are used as afirst-line treatment.
Other times they are used after other treatments have failed, or in advanced cancers.
Often, they are used in addition to other treatments.
Gene therapy work in different ways.
Some forms replace a disease-causing gene with a healthy copy of that gene.
Others turn off a disease-causing gene or introduce a new or modified gene.
Huntington’s diseaseis a genetic disease that affects the nervous system, causing behavioral changes and involuntary movements.
There is no cure for Huntington’s disease, but gene therapy is showing promise in clinical trials.
Another form boosts the brain and body’s ability to ward off the progression of the disease naturally.
In some cases, these side effects are quite mild, such as a rash.
In other cases, they can be fatal.
Side effects can occur during or after treatment.
Common ones may include:
Many of these treatments come with a risk ofimmunosuppression.
That means that part of your immune system cant respond to fight off infections the way it normally would.
This might make you more susceptible to certain types of infections.
Also, the risk might be only small or nonexistent in a drug that otherwise gives many potential benefits.
Rare reactions to biologic therapy like immunotherapy include severe or fatal allergic reactions and inflammation-related reactions.
Talk things through with your health provider to confirm you make a decision that makes sense for you.
Risks are generally better understood for biologic therapies that have been around for a while compared to newer treatments.
Are Biologics Safe to Use During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding?
However, it may also be a risk to stop a biologic treatment if you are already using one.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your particular situation and the overall risks and benefits.
Instead, call your practitioners office and tell them the situation.
This will help your practitioner check that that the potential benefits of treatment outweigh potential risks.
People with certain medical conditions might not be able to get biologic treatments.
You might need to get ascreening test for tuberculosisor a screening test for hepatitis.
But this wont be necessary for every throw in of biologic therapy.
Your healthcare provider will let you know what screening tests might make sense for you.
So you may need to get some of these vaccines before starting therapy.
Can Biologics Be Taken With Other Non-Biologic Therapies?
Biologic treatments are often taken alongside older non-biologic therapies.
For example, someone with rheumatoid arthritis might still continue taking methotrexate while adding an additional biologic treatment.
However, it will also depend on your specific situation.
In some cases, the biologic treatment will take the place of previous non-biologic therapies.
How Are Biologics Administered?
This varies based on the specific biologic product.
In general, biologics are given as injections or as infusions.
Biologic therapies are sensitive to heat and light, so carefully follow any preparation instructions given by your clinician.
Intravenous infusionsare administered through a vein.
These usually take longer, perhaps a couple of hours.
These are typically given in a medical office.
In some cases, only a single treatment is needed.
In others, the biologic treatment will need to be taken at regular intervals over time.
How Quickly Do Biologics Work?
How quickly a biologic drug works depends on the particular therapy.
For example, a shot of insulin begins to work almost immediately.
Ask your healthcare provider what you might expect in your particular situation.
What Are Biosimilars?
Basically, biosimilars are to biologics asgeneric drugsare to brand-name drugs.
Biosimilars may offer cheaper and more affordable options to patients.
However, unlike generic drugs, biosimilars can’t be copied exactly.
This has to do with the way biologic products are manufactured.
It also makes sense to see to it that the FDA has designated the biosimilar asinterchangeablewith the original product.
Summary
Biologic therapy includes any therapy made from a living source.
Some forms like insulin and antitoxin therapy have been around for a long time.
Biosimilars are similar to the original biologic product, but may be available at more affordable prices.
Talk to your healthcare provider about your biologic therapy options.
Discuss possible side effects and the potential benefits of therapy.
Biologics can prevent or slow disease progression and may even offer a cure.
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