Drug types - Revision history

Jaf at 22:32, 21 September 2023

2023-09-21T22:32:40Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:32, 21 September 2023
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	\|rowspan="2"\|Design and Manufacture		\|rowspan="2"\|Design and Manufacture
	\|Design		\|Design
	\|They have '''large complex structures''' with intricate folds held together by weaker non-covalent bonds. ''~~Typically 20-100~~ atoms.''		\|They have '''large complex structures''' with intricate folds held together by weaker non-covalent bonds. ''Can have 1000’s or even 10,000s of atoms.''
	\|They have '''small simpler structures''' with mostly fewer and stronger covalent bonds. ''~~Can have 1000’s or even 10,000s of~~ atoms.''		\|They have '''small simpler structures''' with mostly fewer and stronger covalent bonds. ''Typically 20-100 atoms.''
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	\|Manufacture		\|Manufacture
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	\|Side effects		\|Side effects
	\|'''Lower toxicity and side effects.''' Their bespoke complex structure results in high selectivity, binding mostly to just what they're ~~designed~~ to.		\|'''Lower toxicity and side effects.''' Their bespoke complex structure results in high selectivity, binding mostly to just what they're intended to.
	\|'''Greater toxicity and side effects.''' Their smaller and simpler structure results in lower selectivity, interacting and binding with more unintentional off-target sites.		\|'''Greater toxicity and side effects.''' Their smaller and simpler structure results in lower selectivity, interacting and binding with more unintentional off-target sites.
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	\|Storage		\|Storage
	\|Their large delicate structure make them '''sensitive to physical conditions''' (temperature, shear stress, light etc.).		\|Their large and delicate structure make them '''sensitive to physical conditions''' (temperature, shear stress, light etc.).
	\|Their small structure, mostly composed of strong covalent bonds, makes them more robust and '''less sensitive to physical conditions.'''		\|Their small structure, mostly composed of strong covalent bonds, makes them more robust and '''less sensitive to physical conditions.'''
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Jaf: Added category

2023-06-14T16:28:01Z

Added category

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			[[Category:Drugs]]

Jaf: First issue

2023-06-14T13:41:31Z

First issue

New page

==Types==

There are broadly two types of drugs. Biologics (aka. Large Molecules) and Small Molecules.

[[File:Drug molecule comparison.png|center|frame|Drug molecule comparison. Biologic left, Small molecule right]]

==Comparison==

{| class="wikitable"
|+ style="caption-side:bottom"|''General characteristics of biologic and small molecule drugs''
!colspan="2"|
!colspan="1"|Biologics
!colspan="1"|Small Molecules
|-
|rowspan="2"|Design and Manufacture
|Design
|They have '''large complex structures''' with intricate folds held together by weaker non-covalent bonds. ''Typically 20-100 atoms.''
|They have '''small simpler structures''' with mostly fewer and stronger covalent bonds. ''Can have 1000’s or even 10,000s of atoms.''
|-
|Manufacture
|Made by a '''complex bioprocess using living organisms.'''
|Made by '''simpler chemical synthesis.'''
|-
|rowspan="4"|Effectiveness
|Efficacy
|'''Revolutionary, especially for chronic hard-to-treat diseases''' (e.g. cancer and autoimmune diseases).
|Medications exist for both acute and chronic diseases.
|-
|Side effects
|'''Lower toxicity and side effects.''' Their bespoke complex structure results in high selectivity, binding mostly to just what they're designed to.
|'''Greater toxicity and side effects.''' Their smaller and simpler structure results in lower selectivity, interacting and binding with more unintentional off-target sites.
|-
|Storage
|Their large delicate structure make them '''sensitive to physical conditions''' (temperature, shear stress, light etc.).
|Their small structure, mostly composed of strong covalent bonds, makes them more robust and '''less sensitive to physical conditions.'''
|-
|Administration
|'''Injected, therefore less patient friendly.''' Their complex and fragile folded structure cant survive the digestive tract, and their large structure cant be absorbed through it either.
|'''Swallowed/Inhaled/Absorbed through the skin, therefore more patient friendly.''' Their small and stable structure is often able to survive the digestive tract, and they can be absorbed through it too.
|-
|rowspan="2"|Business
|Market size
|'''Minority of drugs.''' Relatively novel but are becoming increasingly common.
|'''Majority of drugs''' currently on the market.
|-
|Cost
|'''Extremely expensive.''' Complex to design, manufacture, and administer. Furthermore, on patent expiry, they are still challenging manufacture, with biosimilars only reducing cost by tens of percent.
|'''Cheap.''' Simpler to design, manufacture and administer. Furthermore, after patent expiry, they are easier to copy, with generics often reducing cost by an order of magnitude.
|-
|}