Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Biopharmaceuticals are medical drugs produced using biotechnology. They include proteins (including antibodies), nucleic acids (DNA, RNA or antisense oligonucleotides) used for therapeutic or in vivo diagnostic purposes.
Related terms
Monoclonal Antibodies: These are identical immune cells that are clones of a unique parent cell, often used in the creation of biopharmaceuticals.
Gene Therapy: This is a technique that uses genes to treat or prevent disease. It's another application of biotechnology in medicine.
Pharmacogenomics: This is the study of how genes affect a person's response to drugs. It combines pharmacology (the science of drugs) and genomics (the study of genes and their functions) to develop effective, safe medications and doses tailored to a person's genetic makeup.