What is the term for drugs produced by recombinant DNA technology?

The term "biopharmaceuticals" refers to drugs that are produced using biological methods, particularly through recombinant DNA technology. This technology involves manipulating and combining DNA from different sources to produce proteins that can be used as therapeutic agents. These biopharmaceuticals can include a variety of products such as hormones, vaccines, and enzymes, which are designed specifically to treat diseases or improve health outcomes.

The use of recombinant DNA technology allows for the production of biologically active molecules that are often more effective and with fewer side effects than traditional chemical drugs. Biopharmaceuticals are a crucial part of modern medicine, as they include advanced therapies such as insulin for diabetes and therapies for cancers and autoimmune diseases.

In contrast, heterologous proteins are those produced in a host organism that is different from the organism they are derived from, while monoclonal antibodies are a specific type of biopharmaceutical created from identical immune cells that are clones of a unique parent cell. Molecular formulations typically refer to the specific compositions and methods for preparing drugs rather than the technologies used to create them. This distinction is important in understanding the landscape of drug development and the innovative approaches taken in the pharmaceutical industry.