what is a biologic drug

Biologic drugs, also known as biological products, are pharmaceutical drug products that are manufactured in, extracted from, or semisynthesized from biological sources. They are a subset of a class of medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) . Biologics can be composed of sugars, proteins, nucleic acids, or complex combinations of these substances, or may be living cells or tissues. They are isolated from living sources such as human, animal, plant, fungal, or microbial. Biologics are more complex than other medications and tend to be more unpredictable and sensitive to light and temperature. They are usually administered via injection or infusion. Biologics are used to treat a wide range of conditions, including autoimmune disorders, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. They can slow or stop inflammation that can damage joints and organs in arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Biologics are more expensive than conventional drugs and require several years of clinical trials for approval.