Has your doctor ever mentioned a 'biologic' drug? Or have you ever heard someone talking about a serious illness like cancer or arthritis? The name may sound a bit complicated. But don't worry. Today, we'll talk about these biologics, which are said to be the future of medicine, in a very simple way that you can understand.
Simply put, what are these biologics?
Think about a paracetamol pill that we usually take. It is made in a laboratory by combining various chemicals. But biologics are not chemically made medicines. These are made from living things, that is, from living cells.
Simply put, scientists take proteins or genetic materials from living sources, such as human cells, animal cells, or microorganisms, and use high-tech methods to turn them into drugs. This process is called biotechnology . It is a very complex, delicate, and expensive process. That is why these drugs are much more expensive than regular drugs.
Today, these biologics are used to treat a wide range of complex diseases that are difficult to control with conventional medications.
What are examples of biologics?
Even if you're unfamiliar with the term "biologics," there are some biologics that we all know and use. Let's look at some key examples. Some of these may be familiar to you.
| Biologic type | Use cases |
|---|---|
| Vaccines | To prevent infectious diseases like measles, mumps, and COVID-19. |
| Insulin therapy | To control diabetes. |
| Immunotherapy | To stimulate the body's own immune system to fight cancer cells. |
| Monoclonal antibody therapy | For cancer, arthritis, and certain infections such as COVID-19. |
| Stem cell therapy | For blood cancers and blood diseases such as leukemia. |
| Gene therapy | To correct genetic diseases such as hemophilia. |
| Blood and blood products | To stop bleeding in case of an accident and as a treatment for blood diseases. |
What are the main benefits of biologics?
There are many benefits to patients from these types of medications.
Protecting the world from infectious diseases
The vaccines we all receive from childhood are the oldest and most successful examples of biologics. These vaccines have helped eradicate diseases like smallpox from the world. Vaccines help save millions of lives every year. When the COVID-19 pandemic came, we knew how important vaccines made with biologic technology were to control it.
New hope for cancer patients
Biologics have revolutionized cancer treatment. Treatments like immunotherapy train the body's own immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. These can be given in combination with chemotherapy or radiation to improve results.
Chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease management
Diseases like Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) are called autoimmune diseases . This means that the body's own immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells. Biologics are very effective in controlling the chronic pain and inflammation that occurs in these diseases.
Typically, medications like corticosteroids, which are used to treat these conditions, have more side effects when taken long-term. However, biologics target and block only a specific immune pathway that causes inflammation. Therefore, unwanted side effects are much less common.
Aren't there disadvantages and risks to biologics?
As with any medication, biologics have some disadvantages and risks that we need to be aware of.
1. Production is complex and expensive
As we mentioned before, these are made inside living cells, so the manufacturing process is very complex. And even a small change can affect the quality of the medicine. Because of this, these medicines take a long time to come to market and are very expensive.
2. The body may have an immune response.
Because these drugs are similar to living things, sometimes our body's immune system thinks that this is a germ that is causing the disease. Then it acts against the drug and tries to destroy its power. Sometimes allergic reactions can occur. Because most biologics are proteins, and allergies occur to proteins.
3. It is often given as an injection.
Biologics often don't come as pills. They are given as self-injections under the skin or as an IV infusion (like saline) into a vein in a hospital. This can be uncomfortable for someone who doesn't like injections. There can also be pain, swelling, and redness at the injection site.
4. The dangers of immunosuppressive medications
Biologics, which are used to treat autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, work by reducing the activity of the immune system to some extent. This is called immunosuppression . This can increase the risk of developing even common infections, such as colds and flu.
But there's no need to worry about this. Your doctor will recommend this medicine after weighing all the factors, including the harm caused by the disease, the benefits of the medicine, and the risks of the medicine, and choosing the best option for you.
Should I ask the doctor about biologics?
Depending on your condition, your doctor may suggest a biologic first. Or, if you try conventional treatments first and don't see any results, you may consider biologics as the next step.
Biologics have been able to change the lives of people with serious, chronic diseases that have not responded to other treatments, so it's important to discuss with your doctor whether this is right for you.
While conventional medications will always have a place in medicine, biologics are arguably the future of medicine. Scientists continue to develop this technology, trying to find more and more treatments for more diseases with fewer side effects.
Take-Home Message
- Biologics are a type of high-tech, powerful medicine made from living sources. They are used to treat diseases that are difficult to control with conventional treatments.
- Many of the vaccines, insulin, and modern treatments for cancer and joint diseases we use fall into the category of biologics.
- Although these provide very effective results, they are expensive, often given as injections, and can cause side effects such as reactions from the body or an increased risk of infection.
- Only your doctor can decide if biologic therapy is right for you, so always talk openly with your doctor about this.
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