Tag: Immunogenicity

With over 30 FDA-approved PEGylated drugs on the market, PEGylation is a proven method for improving biopharmaceutical properties. This process involves attaching polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains to therapeutic molecules to explain what are the benefits of PEGylation for drug efficacy and safety.

For patients with autoimmune diseases, biologics can be life-changing, yet an estimated 30-40% of patients on biologics for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis stop treatment due to non-response or loss of efficacy. This can be a frustrating and confusing experience, leaving many to wonder, **why do biologics stop working?**

As of 2024, nearly 200 monoclonal antibodies have been approved for treating diseases, with many more in development [1.7.1]. This raises a common question for patients and caregivers alike: what does the ending umab mean and what does it signify about the medication?

The field of monoclonal antibody therapy is one of the fastest-growing areas in medicine, with over 100 monoclonal antibody drugs having received FDA approval since 1986. A key identifier you may have noticed is the suffix **Umab**, which helps pharmaceutical professionals and patients alike understand the drug's specific origin and potential benefits.

While PEGylation has dramatically improved the stability and half-life of many biopharmaceuticals, a targeted literature review of PEGylated therapeutics reveals potential adverse outcomes, including increased drug clearance and decreased activity. Concerns regarding immunogenicity and patient safety have led to a critical re-examination of what are the drawbacks of PEGylation.

Peptide-based drugs often have short half-lives in the body due to rapid degradation by proteases, with half-lives sometimes less than an hour. This critical limitation prompts the question: are peptoids better than peptides for therapeutic applications? This article explores the key differences in structure, pharmacology, and potential applications.