Biopharmaceuticals

Biopharmaceuticals (pronunciation: bio-far-ma-soo-ti-kals) are medical drugs produced using biotechnology. They are proteins (including antibodies), nucleic acids (DNA, RNA or antisense oligonucleotides) used for therapeutic or in vivo diagnostic purposes, and are produced by means other than direct extraction from a native (non-engineered) biological source.

Etymology

The term "biopharmaceutical" is a portmanteau of "biological" and "pharmaceutical". "Biological" comes from the Greek word "bios" meaning "life", and "pharmaceutical" comes from the Greek word "pharmakeia" meaning "drug-making".

Related Terms

Biotechnology: The use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products.
Antibodies: A blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen.
Nucleic Acids: Complex organic substances present in living cells, especially DNA or RNA, whose molecules consist of many nucleotides linked in a long chain.
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, a self-replicating material present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
RNA: Ribonucleic acid, a nucleic acid present in all living cells. Its principal role is to act as a messenger carrying instructions from DNA for controlling the synthesis of proteins.
Therapeutic: Relating to the healing of disease.
In Vivo: A process performed or taking place in a living organism.
Diagnostic: Concerned with the diagnosis of illness or other problems.
Pharmaceutical: Relating to medicinal drugs, or their preparation, use, or sale.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Biopharmaceuticals
Wikipedia's article - Biopharmaceuticals

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Biopharmaceuticals