IIT-Delhi project looks to make biotherapeutics more accessible

Subject :Science and Tech

Section: Biotechnology

Context:

Biologic drugs used to treat cancer and other auto-immune disorders are often beyond the reach of patients, due to their high prices. But IIT-Delhi has developed a platform that strikes at one of the key reasons for the high price—manufacturing.

More About News:

IIT Delhi has developed a platform which tries to shift the manufacturing of drugs from batch to continuous Manufacturing process thereby reducing cost significantly.

Batch Process vs. Continuous Process

Batch manufacturing is a manufacturing process in which a specific quantity of a product is produced in a single production run. Then, the equipment is cleaned and prepared for the next production run.
Manufacturers use batch manufacturing for products made in small quantities or requiring a high level of customization. As a result, batch manufacturing provides more process control.
On the other hand, continuous manufacturing is continuous and ongoing rather than divided into discrete batches. In continuous manufacturing, raw materials are fed into the mixers at one end of the production process, and final products emerge from the other end.
Manufacturers often use continuous manufacturing for high-volume production, requiring top-level consistency and quality control.

What is a biologic drug (biologics)?

A biologic drug (biologics) is a product that is produced from living organisms or contain components of living organisms.
Biologic drugs include a wide variety of products derived from human, animal, or microorganisms by using biotechnology.
Types of biologic drugs include vaccines, blood, blood components, cells, allergens, genes, tissues, and recombinant proteins.
Biologic products may contain proteins that control the action of other proteins and cellular processes, genes that control production of vital proteins, modified human hormones, or cells that produce substances that suppress or activate components of the immune system.
Biologic drugs are sometimes referred to as biologic response modifiers because they change the manner of operation of natural biologic intracellular and cellular actions.

What are biologics used for?

Biologic drugs are used for treatment of numerous diseases and conditions, and are the most advanced therapies available. Some biologic drugs are used for the treatment of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases.
Available biologics have revolutionized cancer treatment, delayed or reversed the course of immune related conditions, changed the lives of people with rare diseases, and have offered hope for many patients who previously had no effective treatment options for their condition.
Examples of medical uses for biologic drugs include: Various cancers, Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn’s disease etc.