Biotechnology overview

Biotechnology overview

The following trends in the biotechnology will radically change how we receive therapies and will change medicine fundamentally:

  • Gene editing therapies
  • RNA interference (RNAi) treatments
  • CAR-T immuno-oncology therapies
  • Organs on a chip
  • Bionic organisms
  • Brain-computer interface
  • Miniaturized bioreactors
  • Digital Biology
  • Digital Health Tracking
  • Predictive analytics

Gene editing therapies

The gene editing therapies such as for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are breakthroughs. In future most therapies will be based on gene editing means genetic engineering, where DNA is inserted, modified, deleted or replaced in the genome of a living organism. Gene therapies will replace defective genes with a normal allele at its natural location. Gene editing will be used for designer baby’s and human enhancements in the future. 

The following diseases are targeted in the moment with gene engineering:

  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
  • Anencephaly
  • Down syndrome
  • HIV
  • Hunter syndrome
  • Klinefelter syndrome
  • Spina bifida
  • Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)
  • Turner syndrome

RNA interference (RNAi) treatments

RNA interference treatments on the other side are used to inhibit gene expression through RNA molecules (inhibitors).

The following diseases are targeted in the moment with RNA interference treatments:

  • Acute renal failure
  • Adenovirus
  • Alzheimer
  • Age-related macular degeneration
  • Cancer
  • Choroidal neovascularization
  • Cicatrix scar prevention
  • Diabetic macular oedema
  • Diabetic retinopathy
  • Dry-eye syndrome
  • Ebola
  • Familial adenomatous polyposis
  • HBV
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • HIV
  • HPV
  • Hypercholesterolaemia
  • Influenza virus
  • Kidney injury
  • Macular degeneration
  • Measles virus
  • Non-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy
  • Ocular pain
  • Optic atrophy
  • Pachyonychia congenita
  • Parkinson
  • Polyglutamine
  • Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
  • SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV)
  • Transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis

CAR-T immuno-oncology therapies

Cancer immuno therapy is the artificial stimulation of the immune system to treat cancer, improving on the system’s natural ability to fight cancer. Cancer cells often have tumor antigens, which can be detected by the antibody proteins of the immune system and binding to them.

The following diseases are targeted in the moment with CAR-T immuno-oncology therapies:

  • Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
  • B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
  • Bladder cancer
  • Cell lung cancer
  • Cervical cancer
  • Classical Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
  • Metastatic melanoma
  • Metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma
  • Non-Hodkin lymphoma
  • Prostate cancer
  • Refractory CLL
  • Renal cell carcinoma
  • Small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
  • Stomach cancer

Organs on a chip (OOC)

Microchips lined by living human cells that revolutionize drug development, disease modeling and personalized medicine. OOC is a multi-channel 3D microfluidic cell culture chip that simulates the activities, mechanics and physiological response of entire organs and organ systems. It’s based on biomedical engineering and will abolish animals in drug development and toxin testing.

Simulated organs on a chip in the moment are:

  • Artery
  • Bone
  • Cartilage
  • Heart
  • Kidney
  • Lung
  • Skin

Bionic organisms

It’s a living system that has some inorganic components designed to improve or alter its functionality (cyborg).

Where bionic organisms are used:

  • Cochlear implants
  • Microchipping
  • Molecule-sized robots
  • Robotic prostheses
  • Swimming bacteria

Miniaturized bioreactors

Miniaturized bioreactors are pilot scale of full scale bioreactors and process (micro-scale).

Brain-computer interface

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) acquire brain signals, analyze them, and translate them into commands that are relayed to output devices that carry out desired actions.

BCI’s are used in the moment for people who have:

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Stroke

And to control the following in the moment:

  • Cars
  • Control of cursors
  • Letter selection
  • Prostheses
  • Robotic arms
  • Wheelchairs

Digital Biology

Digital Biology is the creation of computer models of a specific biological process in order to understand the real system better and can be used for AI.

Digital Health Tracking

Tech giants are entering in the pharmaceutical and biotechnological field of tracking and monitoring health care data of patients and the population.

The following are targeted in the moment with Digital Health Tracking:

  • Accelerometer for fall detection
  • Electrical heart sensor (ECG)
  • Optical heart sensor
  • Workout calories

Predictive analytics

Predictive analytics are used for prediction of trends and behavior pattern using AI.

The following are targeted in the moment with predictive analytics:

  • Alzheimer
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Asthma
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Huntington
  • Fraud detection
  • Parkinson