Biologics may be prescribed for the treatment of many different diseases and conditions, especially inflammatory diseases.
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What Is a Biologic?
They are manufactured in a controlled, engineered environment.
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The production and chemical composition of biologics are more complex than that of most medications.
Biologics are large molecules, with a high molecular weight.
They tend to be unstable and in many cases need to be kept refrigerated until they are used.
The manufacturing process for a biologic medication requires highly controlled conditions.
It is possible to make a biologic that is similar to the original.
These are called biosimilars.
This is true for biologics whether they are derived from human, animal, or microorganism sources.
The anti-drug antibodies could make the drug less effective.
A half-life is how long it takes for 50% of a drug to be cleared from the body.
There are pros and cons to each solution.
And the cost is a limitation, as biologics tend to be expensive to manufacture and administer.
In some cases, other medications are given to have a go at prevent the immune response.
This is sometimes called a drug holiday.
Your doctor might monitor you to look for antibodies during the drug re-introduction.
There has been some research on re-starting a biologic after it stopped working the first time.
The reasons for stopping were infusion reactions, pregnancy, or loss of response.
The level of anti-drug antibodies is also an important factor.
Steroids are given as a pre-medication for many people.
One study was done with 53 patients who were receiving Remicade to treatCrohns disease.
The study participants were randomized to receive either hydrocortisone by IV or a placebo prior to receiving the Remicade.
What happened was that 19 of the 53 developed antibodies (which was 36%).
However, the researchers concluded that the hydrocortisone did not stop infusion reactions or the formation of antibodies.
The researchers emphasize that this can help physicians and patients make informed decisions when it comes to switching medications.
There are still a lot of unknowns about anti-drug antibodies.
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