CNPR, NAPSR Exam 2023 with 100% correct answers

Drug Discovery • Unlike small molecule drugs (pharmaceuticals), large molecule drugs (biopharmaceuticals) are mainly protein-based o These protein-based drugs are similar to natural biological compounds found in human body or they're fragments that mimic active part of natural compounds Discovery of Pharmaceuticals commences w/ scanning hundreds of compounds, whether w/ actual materials (irrational approach) or virtual simulations (rational approach) • Pharmaceuticals are new chemical entities (NCE) and are produced (synthesized) in manufacturing plants using techniques based on chemical reactions of reactants Discovery of Biopharmaceuticals researchers have to examine compounds w/in humans o Ex. Hormones or other biological response modifiers and how they affect biological processes o In some cases, study pathogens such as influenza virus or bacteria to derive vaccines o In other cases, researchers copy these biological response modifiers and use them as replacement therapy o Protein-based drugs are manufactured in biological systems, such as living cells, producing desired protein molecules in large reaction vessels or by extraction from animal serum o Becoming increasingly important • More potent and specific—more similar to proteins w/in body therefore more effective in treating our diseases Areas of Biopharmaceuticals • Prophylactic→ preventive as in vaccines • Therapeutic→ antibodies • Replacement therapy→ hormones, growth factors Biologics FDA definition is: o Biological product subject to licensure under Public Health Service Act is any virus, therapeutic serum, toxin, antitoxin, vaccine, blood, a blood component or derivative, allergenic produce, or analogous product, applicable to prevention, treatment or cure of diseases or injuries to humans. Biological products include, but are not limited to, bacterial and viral vaccines, human blood and plasma and their derivatives, and certain products produced by biotechnology, such as interferons and erythropoietins. Biologics encompass many different protein-based drugs, and include blood products such as clotting factors extracted from blood.