title: New peptide and protein drugs.
abstract: A view is presented on a number of recent developments, the present state and the perspectives, especially from a pharmacotherapeutic viewpoint, for peptide and protein drugs. The expanding use and the increasing experience create new pharmacotherapeutic modalities. Peptide and protein drugs comprise among others proteins isolated from human sources, and peptides and proteins made by biotechnology including monoclonal antibodies, recombinant human hormones, cytokines and growth factors. In the field of vaccine development also innovation is taking place. Optimal application schemes of these drugs may not have been reached and (clinical) pharmacists should contribute to the optimization. Since recombinant technology has abolished scarcity for a number of these drugs--especially 'physiological' substances--special ethical problems regarding an unlimited application or expansion of the indications may arise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Toxicology, Leiden University Hospital, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vermeij
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blok
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010595:Pharmacists; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019444:Vaccines, DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D019444:Vaccines, DNA; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D010960:Plasminogen Activators