Perspective - Der Pharmacia Lettre ( 2024) Volume 16, Issue 4
Received: 29-Mar-2024, Manuscript No. DPL-24-137180;
Editor assigned: 01-Apr-2024, Pre QC No. DPL-24-137180 (PQ);
Reviewed: 15-Apr-2024, QC No. DPL-24-137180;
Revised: 22-Apr-2024, Manuscript No. DPL-24-137180 (R);
Published:
29-Apr-2024
, DOI: 10.37532/dpl.2024.16.13
, Citations: Yang X. 2024. The Pharmaceutical Role of Genetic Engineering in Developing Therapeutic
Substances. Der Pharma Lett.16:13-14.
,
Copyright: © 2024 Yang X. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which
permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Genetic engineering, the process of modifying an organism's genetic material, has revolutionized numerous fields, including pharmacy. By altering DNA sequences, scientists can develop organisms that produce therapeutic substances, improve drug efficacy, and create personalized medicine. This overview will illustrate the transformative impact of genetic engineering in pharmacy, using the development of herbicide-resistant crops as a model for understanding the broader applications in drug development and therapeutics. Genetic engineering involves identifying, isolating, modifying, and reintroducing genes to achieve desired traits. For example, creating herbicide-resistant crops entails using the CP4 EPSPS gene from Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This gene, inserted into a plasmid vector and introduced via methods like Agrobacterium-mediated transformation, gene gun, or electroporation, enables plants to survive glyphosate exposure.
Applications in pharmacy
The principles and techniques of genetic engineering applied in developing herbicide-resistant crops have profound implications for pharmacy. Here are several key areas where genetic engineering is making significant strides:
Production of biopharmaceuticals: GMOs are vital for biopharmaceuticals. Insulin, among the earliest, is made by inserting human insulin genes into bacteria for scalable, humane production, unlike animal extraction.
Gene therapy: Genetic engineering corrects defective disease genes through gene therapy, which inserts healthy genes into patient cells. For example, in cystic fibrosis, a functional CFTR gene is introduced into lung cells, replacing the defective gene and alleviating symptoms.
Personalized medicine: Genetic engineering enables personalized medicine, tailoring treatments to individual genetic profiles. Pharmacogenomics studies genetic impacts on drug responses, allowing pharmacists to prescribe the most effective drugs for each patient, minimizing side effects and optimizing therapeutic outcomes.
Vaccine development: Genetic engineering accelerates the development of vaccines. Traditional vaccines often use weakened or inactivated pathogens, but modern techniques involve engineering harmless viruses to express antigens from the pathogen. The mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, for example, use engineered RNA to instruct cells to produce the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, prompting an immune response without using the live virus.
Monoclonal antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies are engineered proteins that can bind to specific targets, such as cancer cells or pathogens. These antibodies are produced by genetically modified cells and are used in treatments for diseases like cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. For example, Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody used to treat certain types of cancer and autoimmune diseases by targeting CD20, a protein found on the surface of B cells.
Enhanced drug delivery systems: Genetic engineering can improve drug delivery systems, making treatments more effective. By modifying viral vectors or nanoparticles to target specific cells or tissues, drugs can be delivered more precisely, reducing side effects and increasing therapeutic efficacy.
Genetic engineering is a cornerstone of modern pharmaceutical science, offering innovative solutions for drug development and therapy. By using techniques used in creating herbicide-resistant crops, researchers have unlocked new possibilities in biopharmaceutical production, gene therapy, personalized medicine, vaccine development, monoclonal antibody therapies, and advanced drug delivery systems. As the field continues to evolve, genetic engineering holds the promise of more effective, safe, and personalized treatments for a wide range of diseases, marking a new era in pharmacy and healthcare.
Citation: Yang X. 2024. The Pharmaceutical Role of Genetic Engineering in Developing Therapeutic Substances. Der Pharma Lett.16:13-14.
Copyright: © 2024 Yang X. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
