Question

What are these therapeutic agents: (A) humira; (B) Enbrel; and (C) Allegra? Your answers should include information on their targets, clinical applications and how they work to alleviate clinical symptoms.

Answer 1

Therapeutic agents are compounds with a beneficial and desirable effect when consumed or applied. These include a range of products, from topical aloe vera to soothe skin irritation tochemotherapy medications used to attack cancers. For safety reasons, many nations regulate them and set standards for purity and labeling. These laws protect consumers and provide guidelines for manufacturers to use in the development and marketing of their products.

Some therapeutic agents are biological in origin, and can include components of plants and minerals as well as animal products. Others are synthetic, produced in a lab environment. Natural agents like herbal medicines may be subject to less regulation and could be treated as dietary supplements rather than medical preparations. Others are more heavily regulated because of the increased risks associated with their use. Medications used in cancer treatment, for example, can be dangerous for patients or people around them.

Studies on therapeutic agents provide information about how they work and what kinds of risks may develop over the course of their application. This research can include lab analysis of compounds to find out what is inside them and how they may act on individual cells during treatment. Some therapeutic agents are customized for individual patients, providing highly targeted treatment for a condition. Such treatments can come with fewer side effects and higher efficacy.