About
Simply put, biotechnology is the application of advances made in the biological sciences, especially involving the science of genetics and its application. Biotechnology is most important for its implications in health and medicine. Pharmaceutical biotechnology has flourished for the last 4-6 decades with the introduction of recombinant DNA technology and metabolic engineering accompanied by the well-developed bioprocess technology. Large scale production and cost effectiveness and affordability have been achievable by implementing all these technologies. The foundations of pharmaceutical biotechnology mainly constitute in the ability of plants, microorganism, cells and animals to produce compounds useful for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Pharmaceutical biotechnology is a relatively new field in which the principles of biotechnology are employed to develop drugs. A majority of therapeutic drugs in the current market are biotech-based products such as antibodies, proteins, nucleic acid products and vaccines. Industrial or white biotechnology uses cells, microorganisms and enzymes to produce goods for industry, including chemicals, food, agricultural and pharmaceutical products. Today we reached a stage where many biopharmaceuticals have been developed into pharmaceutical products from being pure scientific endeavor. Developing novel delivery systems like targeted deliveries coupled with nanotechnology is the another discipline with highly potential to enter in the competitive, and lucrative biopharmaceutical market.
Currently, seven out of the top 10 best-selling drugs are biotech-based drugs and they are expected to become Blockbusters soon because of their therapeutic value and efficacy. Regarding the Iranian pharmaceuticals market, valued by BMI Research at USD 1.9 billion in 2015 – is predicted to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 6%. By 2025, it will be the fourth largest in the Middle East and North Africa, after Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Considering the fast moving market of biological drugs, the introduction of new educational courses into pharmacy curricula is necessary focusing on preparing pharmacists oriented not only for pharmacy practice, but also for drug research and development, pharmaceutical industry and academic research.
The Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Department is one the most active and productive department within the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences and the members are involved in various research activities including drug and gene delivery, nanomedicine, tissue engineering, cancer treatment, microbial metabolites, nanomaterials and biosensors.