Introduction to Biotechnology

Anas Bahnassi

Course Overview

Introduction to Biotechnology.
Review of genetics.
Recombinant DNA technology.
Mutagenesis.
Recombinant DNA applications.
Pharmacogenetics and Gene therapy.

Biotechnology
A field of applied biology that involves the use of
living organisms and bioprocesses in
engineering, technology, medicine and other
fields requiring bioproducts.
Biotechnology also utilizes these products for
manufacturing purpose.
Modern use of similar terms includes genetic
engineering as well as cell and tissue culture
technologies.

What does Biotechnology do?

Use molecular biology to develop useful products
and services
Applications of Biotech:
Drugs + Diagnostics
Enhance crops.
Industrial processes.

Energy production.
Waste degradation.
Environmental remediation.
Unresolved safety concerns.

Pillars of Biotechnology
Scientific Abilities

Intellectual
Properties

Commercial
Biotechnology
Regulations

Commercial Factors

Elements of
Biotechnology
Physiology

Ecology
Species and
groups of
animals,
plants, and
microbes

Molecular
Biology

The chemical and

physical interactions
The structures that within individual cells
compose animals, The processes that
underlie physiology,
plants, and
botany, etc.
microbes
What distinguishes
How these
heart from hair
structures interact
cells?
with each other
How is food
and the
processed into
environment
energy and
Pharmacology
physiological
Neurology
structures?
Immunology

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Biotechnology emphasize on DRUGS:
Drugs are less expensive than hospital treatments
Save healthcare payers time and money

Drugs are the only effective treatment for some conditions

Fill unmet market needs

Post R&D, drug production costs can be very low

High markup
Years of patent-protected sales

Interrupting biological processes is easier than modifying or

creating them
Cost to develop non-drugs may be similar to drugs, but profits are
smaller

Pharmaceutical vs Biotech Drugs

Synthetic (Pharmaceutical) Drugs
Chemically synthesized
Typically small and water soluble
Can withstand stomach acids and
enter bloodstream

Biologic (Biotechnology) Drugs

Biologically synthesized
Typically large proteins, not
necessarily water soluble
Cannot withstand stomach acids
Cannot cross into bloodstream

Drug Delivery Systems

Implants

Patches

Dosed

Liposomes

Delivering Biologics
Challenge
Must invest in developing effective delivery methods
Patient compliance

Opportunity
Possible to increase efficacy, safety
Patches and favorable dosage regimens can improve
compliance

Selling twice as much drug by doubling adoption

and compliance selling two drugs, without the cost
of developing two drugs

Biotech in Drug Development

Injected insulin directly supplements an insufficiency in
diabetics
Prior to 1982, insulin was primarily extracted from pig pancreas
50 pigs sacrificed to produce sufficient insulin for one person for one year
Risk of disease transmission, shortages, immune system rejection

Use gene splicing to insert human insulin gene into bacteria

Plentiful supply
No risk of animal disease transmission
Reduced risk of immune system rejection

Traditional pharmaceutical methods involve chemical synthesis and

biological extracts and pharmaceuticals are often indirect effectors
Biotechnology uses biological synthesis and biologics are often direct
effectors

Scientific Abilities
The Pathway from Science to Drugs

Identify
Target

Find and
Refine
Drug

Preclinical
Trials

Clinical
Trials

Market
and Sell
Drug

Regulations
Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials Provide Value Milestones

R&D is required to reduce risk and

increase the product value

Pharmaceutical Biotechnology
Anas Bahnassi PhD RPh
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