Editorial

Will Advances in Biotechnology Usher in a New Era of Medicine?

Authors: Sharon Wyatt Moore, MD, MBA, MPH

Abstract

The article by Avidor et al 1 discusses four main classes of biotechnology products currently in development: small molecular drugs, protein drugs (ie, hormones, enzymes, monoclonal antibodies, cytokines), gene therapy products, and antisense drugs. It is evident that the field of biotechnology has made remarkable strides within the past 3 decades (Table 1) and offers great promise for additional achievements in the future. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved more than 130 biotechnology drugs and vaccines, and there are currently more than 370 biotechnology products and vaccines in clinical trials sponsored by 144 companies for approximately 200 diseases. This research includes new medicines for a wide spectrum of conditions, including cancer (178 products), infectious diseases (47 products), autoimmune diseases (26 products), neurologic disorders (22 products), and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and related conditions (21 products). 2 Several factors have contributed to this impressive growth: 1) rapid scientific discoveries, 2) efficient development processes within relatively small companies, and 3) an influx of investor capital for new biotechnology products.

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References

1. Avidor Y, Mabjeesh NJ, Matzkin H. Biotechnology and drug discovery: From bench to bedside. South Med J 2003; 96: 1174–1186.
 
2. Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association. 371 biotechnology medicines in testing offer hope of new treatments for nearly 200 diseases (Oct 21, 2002). Available at:http://www.phrma.org/mediaroom/press/releases/21.10.2002.600.cfm. Accessed September 25, 2003.
 
3. Biotechnology Industry Organization. Guide to biotechnology: Biotechnology industry statistics. Available at: http://www.bio.org/er/statistics.asp. Accessed September 25, 2003.
 
4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Commissioner downplays role in drug approvals. The Pink Sheet 2003; 65( 21): 7–8.
 
5. Sung NS, Crowley WF Jr, Genel M, et al. Central challenges facing the national clinical research enterprise. JAMA 2003; 289: 1278–1287.
 
6. Holtzman NA, Marteau TM. Will genetics revolutionize medicine? N Engl J Med 2000; 343: 141–144.
 
7. Bergeron B. Postgenomic medicine: The evolution of clinical medicine—and the clinician. Medscape Gen Med 4(4), 2002. Posted 10/23/2002. Available at:http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/442898_print. Accessed September 25, 2003.
 
8. Rosenberg RN. Translating biomedical research to the bedside: A national crisis and a call to action. JAMA 2003; 289: 1305–1306(editorial).