Oral biologics, also known as biological response modifiers, are a class of pharmaceutical drugs that are produced through biotechnology processes and consist of large, complex molecules. Unlike traditional small molecule drugs that are chemically synthesized, biological response modifiers are made through living systems such as microorganisms or animal cells.
Uses of Oral Biologics
Oral Biologics response modifiers are becoming increasingly important for the treatment of various chronic diseases due to their targeted mechanisms of action. Some of the main conditions treated with biological response modifiers include:
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
One of the most common uses of biological response modifiers is for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Biologic drugs that can be taken orally to induce and maintain remission of IBD symptoms include monoclonal antibodies such as adalimumab (Humira) and vedolizumab (Entyvio). These drugs work by blocking certain inflammatory molecules in the gut.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation in the joints. Oral biologics that may be used to reduce RA symptoms include Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors such as tofacitinib (Xeljanz). JAK inhibitors work by blocking intracellular signaling pathways involved in inflammatory responses.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition characterized by patches of thick, red scaly skin. The biological response modifier apremilast (Otezla) is used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis by inhibiting specific inflammatory molecules. This drug provides an alternative to injectable biologics for psoriasis treatment.
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