Research Paper on "Analyzing Antibiotics in Biotechnology"

Research Paper 4 pages (1342 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Other pharmaceutical companies interested in antibiotics include Pfizer and GSK (GlaxoSmithKline). GSK has made a lot of progress in this field. As of 2013, it had two antibiotics in Phase I trials, three in Phase II trials, and one in Phase III trials. Out of these antibiotics on trial, four were developed through collaborations. The most promising antibiotic is Relenza, a drug designed to an IV (IIntraVenous) administered neuraminidase inhibitor that targets influenza. The target for Phase I antibiotics are bacterial infections while for the Phase II antibiotics include bacterial infections, Hepatitis C and malaria (Dutton, 2013). In May 2013, GSK was awarded a forty million dollar eighteen month contract that included an additional two hundred million dollars if the contract was renewed for 5 years. This contract was for the development and production of antibiotics by the firm.

Another biotech firm, Second Genome, is taking a different approach to stopping infections, said its CEO Peter DiLaura. He stated that the company had developed microbiome modulators to enhance the growth of commensal bacteria focusing on HAIs (Hospital Acquired Infections), metabolic diseases and inflammation. DiLaura explained that early results had shown that modulating intestinal microbiome reduces the duration of time that the human body is susceptible to infection and that healthy microbiomes help to enhance the growth of commensal bacteria that kill or destroy C. difficile infections (Dutton, 2013).

Synthetic human insulin was the first human healthcare approved biotechnological product. Synthetic human insulin was commercialized in the U.S. in the year 1982 (KEY ISSUES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY). Since then over 170 other biotechnological products have been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), of which over one hundred are currently in the market. Over 350 biotechnological products that collectively target over two hundred diseases are also in advanced stages of development.

Issues

Monoclonal antibody diagnostic tests have been around for several decades and now form one of the most profitable products of commercial biotech. These diagnostic tests are relatively cheap to make and present opportunities for developing nations to get into the international biotech market and also to develop diagnostic systems for illnesses particularly those of local relevance. Another area biotechnology utilized for diagnostics is DNA technology (KEY ISSUES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY). DNA probes that attach to complementary sequences from pathogen DNA, are already being put to use in various countries. Such probes are relatively inexpensive to produce, stable in transit and can be utilized in tropical areas for diagnostics. Use of DNA probes for diagnostics is an area that is likely to expand following the development of DNA chips/microarrays which allow the detection and running of 1000s of genes in a single run. This technology is expected to greatly improve the efficiency of drug discovery and development.

Other issues include the development of DNA vaccines. These are expected to combine the relative safety of killed pathogens vaccines with the effectiveness of live vaccines. A handful of therapeutic and preventive vaccines for HIV are currently being tested. DNA vaccines are expected to revolutionize the vaccines market owing to several factors. One is that the cost of producing them is relatively low and two is that they are stable at normal temperatures. The cost of refrigeration usually accounts for about 80% of the total budgets of vaccination programs in tropical countries, thus the ability to store DNA vaccines at normal temperatures can greatly reduce the budget for vaccination (KEY ISSUES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY).

References

Dutton, G. (2013, August 14). Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News - Biotech from Bench to Business -- GEN. Biopharmas Drive Antibiotic Development -- Insight & Intelligence? -- GEN. Retrieved January 10, 2015, from http://www.genengnews.com/insight-and-intelligenceand153/biopharmas-drive-antibiotic-development/77899874/

(2012, May 13). Stock Market Insights -- Seeking Alpha. Big Pharma Abandons Antibiotics: An Opening for Small Biotech -- Seeking Alpha. Retrieved June 10, 2015, from http://seekingalpha.com/article/584871-big-pharma-abandons-antibiotics-an-opening-for-small-biotech

(2002). unctad.org -- Home. KEY ISSUES IN BIOTECHNOLOGY. Retrieved January 10, 2015, from http://unctad.org/en/docs/poitetebd10.en.pdf

(2013, August 15). What Are Antibiotics? Antibiotics Facts and Information. What Are Antibiotics? Antibiotics Facts and Information. Retrieved January 10, 2015,… READ MORE

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