Uses for Recombinant Protein Drugs

The first modern biotechnology drugs, human insulin and human 

Several recombinant drugs treat inherited conditions by replacing missing or malfunctioning proteins. Several of these are enzymes, proteins that drive biochemical reactions. The body has many different enzyme proteins, each of which performs a specific job in the construction or breakdown of chemicals. Some inherited conditions are caused by a destructive buildup of substances, a buildup that occurs because of an error in the gene for a particular enzyme that breaks down that chemical. 

One example is an enzyme replacement drug used to treat a form of Gaucher disease, which is caused by an inherited error in the gene coding for the enzyme that breaks down the fatty substance cerebroside. In Gaucher disease, certain immune system cells 

The placenta-derived enzyme was treated to make any associated risk of viral infections low, but a small risk of infection from human tissue remained, so scientists developed a recombinant replacement enzyme, with the right sugar embellishment, produced from a laboratory source. Unfortimately, about 15% of patients treated with the replacement enzyme develop antibodies to the protein that can reduce the usefulness of the injections and pose a risk of mild to severe allergic reactions. At the moment, however. 

Like many recombinant treatments for chronic diseases, the recombinant replacement enzyme for Gaucher disease is very expensive A year s treatment can cost over 150,000, though most private insurance companies will reimburse patients for its use. 

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The nasal tissue is highly vascularized and provides efficient systemic absorption. Compared with oral or subcutaneous administration, nasal administration enhances bioavailability and improves safety and efficacy. Chitosan enhances the absorption of proteins and peptide drugs across nasal and intestinal epithelia. Gogev et al. demonstrated that the soluble formulation of glycol chitosan has potential usefulness as an intranasal adjuvant for recombinant viral vector vaccines in cattle [276]. 

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