Notes: Y2 pharm theory - biologics
Similar resources:
y2pharmtheory
biologics
Biologics- peptides/ proteins, sugars or nucleic acids. Produced by an organism
which has been genetically engineered to synthesise the biologic.
• Biosimilar- almost identical copy of the innovator biologic
• SME (small molecular entity)- chemical with low molecular weight (normal
drug)
• Generic drug- copy of innovator drug when drug is off patent
o SME → generic (traditional drugs made through chemical reactions)
o biologic → biosimilar (engineered organism makes biologics)
• biologics are more specific than traditional drugs. have a high affinity
o can be glycosylated to become a biosimilar
• Classification of Protein Therapeutics:
o Group 1: (enzymes and regulatory proteins)
▪ 1a- replacing a protein which is deficient or abnormal (insulin)
▪ 1b- providing a novel function or activity (streptokinase)
o Group 2: (targeted proteins)
▪ 2a- interfering with a molecule or organism (rituximab)
▪ 2b- delivering other compounds to proteins (tositumomab)
o Group 3: (protein vaccines)
▪ 3a- protecting against deleterious foreign agent
▪ 3b- treating an autoimmune disease
▪ 3c- treating cancer
o Group 4: (protein diagnostics)
▪ capromab pendtide
• Examples:
o Insulin
o Growth Hormone (from dead pituitary glands → Creutzfeld-Jacob
disease
ESR Pharmacology: Biologics
• Antibodies:
therapeutic actions of antibodies
• naming of antibodies: (IgG)
o -omab = mouse antibody
o -ximab = chimeric from mouse
o -zumab = humanised (a bit still from mouse)
o -umab = human (fully human Ab)
• anti-TNFa:
o infliximab – rheumatoid arthritis
ESR Pharmacology: Biologics
• T-cell signalling:
o T cells need 2 signals from the APC to be activated
1. TCR → MHC II
2. CD28 (T cell) → CD80/86 (B7) (APC)
1. CTLA-4 is upregulated in some T cells and CD80/86 can
bind to it. the action is to inhibit the T cell from working
o Abatacept- CTLA-4 fusion protein (rheumatoid arthritis) (prevents
second signal)
o Ipilimumab- anti CTLA-4 antibody (melanoma/ cancer) allows T cell to
work and attack the cancer
