Biologic drugs are obtained from living sources such as animals
As opposed to drugs that are synthesized through a chemical process, biologic drugs are obtained from living sources such as animals and human beings (Wood & Foote 2008). In a definition given by the US Code of Federal Regulations, a biologic product refers to any virus or toxin used in the prevention or treatment of illnesses that attack human beings. Drawing from a study by Mulberg, Murphy, Dunne and Mathis (2013, p. 313), there has been a significant increase in the number of biologic products over the years. Considering that nearly 40 percent of pharmaceutical products are presently based on biologics, there is a rising concern among stakeholders concerning the effectiveness of biologic drugs. A key concern is whether the use of biologic drugs will dominate the future of the pharmaceutical industry.
It is thus imperative to understand what the growth and development of biologics means for the future. This paper explores a number of issues related to the use of biologics and makes an attempt to answer this question. Specifically, the paper looks at various types of biologics, benefits and drawbacks of biologics, and contemporary usage of biologic drugs. Toward the end, the future of biologics in the pharmaceutical industry is discussed
