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  Applications of biotechnology in pharmacology

  Posted by Encyclios on April 11, 2023 at 3:54 PM

  Important drugs can be produced with biotechnology. Early biotechnology drugs include human insulin (1979), followed by growth hormone (1985), interferon, and blood proteins (1987-1989), such as erythropoietin (EPO), the molecule that controls red blood cell production. Coagulation factor VIII was also obtained in the laboratory, thus solving the problem of safe blood products for the treatment of hemophilia. Modulators of the immune system have also been developed (1986-91).

  Thanks to biotechnology it was also possible to isolate the virus responsible for AIDS and to develop the first drug used against the disease, AZT. Other drugs have been developed with biotechnology, such as interferons-alpha-2a, 2b and n3, OKT₃ anti CD₃ against transplant rejection, tPA for cardiovascular diseases, GM-CSF active on bone marrow transplant recipients, G-CSF for cancer chemotherapy, factor IX antitumor, pulmozin for cystic fibrosis and cedrase for Gaucher disease. Biotechnological drugs, being synthesized by bacteria on the instructions of a gene extracted from the human genome, are more specific, cost less, because bacteria reproduce quickly and are more pure, i.e. they have a much lower probability than traditional drugs to transmit virus infections.

  Today the main tool used by biotechnology is genetic engineering. There are at least a dozen branches of biotechnology, most of which are usually identified in international language with one of the colors of the rainbow. Red: is the field of biotechnology that deals with biomedical and pharmaceutical processes for the identification of active ingredients and vaccines; Green: is devoted to agricultural processes (eg. for the realization of GMOs); Yellow: is interested in the production of special foods (gluten free, light, lactose free); White: focuses on industrial biotechnology; Grey: is dedicated to environmental protection and preservation; Blue: is dedicated to studies on marine organisms; Gold: develops bioinformatics and nanotechnology; Black: is engaged in the study of bacteriological weapons; Violet: focuses on ethical issues related to biotechnology; Orange: works for the dissemination of biotechnology studies and discoveries to the general public.

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