Types of Biologics

Since inception, different types of biologic therapies have been developed and can be used to treat different clinical conditions. To date, US Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to many forms of biologic therapy. However, there are some forms of biologic therapy that are reserved for experiments that involve the participation of cancer patients in clinical trials. According to Vachani and Millar (2010, p. 1), types of biologics include colony stimulating factors, monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, interleukin, interferon, and gene therapy. For ease of understanding, these types of biologic therapies are usually placed in different categories including drugs, vaccines, advanced therapies, and traditional vaccines also referred to as blood products or vaccines. The drugs category is made up of monochlonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, recombinant or synthetic peptides, and antisense. Monochlonal antibodies are antibodies that hold specific antigens normally expressed by cancer cells. The vaccines category is made up of recombinant and DNA vaccines while advanced therapies consists of gene therapies, cell therapies and tissue engineered products. The same cells are later transformed and fed back into a patient’s body. For safety reasons, vaccines must go through an elaborate review process in a well protected and safe laboratory environment. The review process also helps to guarantee the effectiveness and purity of the vaccines.