In today’s dynamic sphere of medicine, precision biotherapeutics is a new approach that aligns focus on every individual’s area of concern, in health, as every being possesses a different genetic makeup, molecular structure and most important, a unique lifestyle. Unlike the earlier accepted strategy to move ahead in medicine and healthcare that aimed for a ‘conventional’ way of treatment, this strategy aims to develop personalized medications for each that address the root cause of diseases at a molecular level.

Every disease affects individuals differently, and part of it is due to the different genetic profiles: hence precision medicine. Over the past years, genomics and bioinformatics research has enabled researchers to produce targeted therapies that are personalized to individual patients based on their unique biological profile; as a result, these treatments have been shown in many cases not only lessen side effects but also yield more efficacious outcomes.

One of the fields of precision biotherapeutics is Proteolysis Targeting Chimeras (PROTACs). PROTACs are small molecules that work by causing the breakdown of specific proteins responsible for diseases. They work by using the body’s natural protein disposal system to find harmful proteins in our body for destruction. Not just by blocking these proteins, PROTACs remove them entirely. Some areas where its use is relevant is, cancer where PROTAC is being used to target and degrade specific proteins that promote cancer cell growth, Alzheimer’s; degrade beta-amyloid proteins which are related to this disease’s progression and Parkinson’s where clearance of misfolded or toxic proteins like alpha-synuclein(neurodegenerative protein) is done.
It can be said that precision biotherapeutics offer more effective and safer therapies. PROTACs are a part of this revolution, providing a breakthrough in targeting and degrading disease-causing proteins. Not just this one technique but as precision biotherapeutics continue to evolve, it holds the promise of advancing in treatments for various other medical conditions that might seem a challenge to overcome without reducing the side effects.

Naaisha Raina

University/College name : Delhi University/ Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences