Biologic drugs are not new. Examples of long-existing biologics include human growth hormone, certain types of insulin, vaccines, and stem cell therapies. Some of these biologics—vaccines in particular— date back to the nineteenth century. As knowledge of genetics and cell processes has increased, pharmaceutical companies and medical researchers have been able to significantly expand the range of biologics available to treat both common and rare medical conditions, ranging from anemia and diabetes to certain cancers and autoimmune diseases. Despite their long history, defining biologic drugs remains difficult.
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