Abstract

BARATA, Luís Taborda. Underneath mechanisms for the use of biologics. Rev Port Imunoalergologia [online]. 2017, vol.25, n.3, pp.157-164. ISSN 0871-9721.

Biologicals and biosimilars are drugs developed from live cells, with more or less modifications regarding to the original molecules, after using variable biotechonological methodologies. Several challenges have been overcome in order to obtain biopharmacals with high specificity, low immunogenicity and therapeutical efficacy. During the last years there has been a growing application of this type of drugs, evolving from hormones and hematopoieical factors to monoclonal antibodies, being the last ones the most used particularly in two areas: oncology and anti-inflammatory therapy for autoimmunity or not. In fact the spectrum of utilization of this type of antibodies has became larger, not only due to its tolerability, and diminished immunogenicity, but also due to its increasingly higher half-time and functional optimization. Nowadays, there is a vast number of monoclonal antibodies with proven efficiency based on its interference in one or more immunopathological mechanisms. Beyond this, new antibodies are being developed. In the future, its mandatory to have its judicious utilization, based on clear guidelines

Keywords : Monoclonal antibodies; biosimilars; biotechnology; biological drugs; biological therapy.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )