Contributions of Biotechnology to Pharmaceuticals
Currently about one-third of more than 1000 medicines in human trial are biotechnology medicines. Already, we have a good number of biotechnology medicines commercially available in the world market. These medicines are being used for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, sclerosis, hemophilia A, rheumatoid arthritis, anemia, infertility, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, chronic hepatitis C, AIDS, cancer etc. Biotechnology enables to modify naturally occurring molecule to confer therapeutic value as medicines. An example is the interferon. This protein is altered to prevent it from being eliminated from the body too rapidly, enabling it to suppress the virus longer.

Biotechnology facilitates the discovery of new drugs with novel mechanism of action for diseases that were previously difficult or untreated. It has contributed a lot in the diagnosis of diseases in genetic level. About 400 genetic disorders in humans are caused by defects in single genes. Companies are also putting much attention in cloning of individual body cells, tissues and genes into biotechnology medicines that are expected to be safer and more effective than conventional medicines. To undertake a rational drug design study, a structure for the target receptor is required. Biotechnology can provide this target receptor. Scientists are trying to set up more improved and adaptable techniques that will lead the journey of technology-based drug discovery to a long way to find newer, safer, and cost-effective life-saving pharmaceuticals to combat even the undefined disease.

After the announcement of human genome sequence, the scientists are figuring out what protein the gene encodes and what function a protein does in the body. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are investigating to learn about the proteins and their interactions in causing disease. Pharmaceutical researchers have selected about 500 targets, which is expected to be 10,000 within a couple of years. As more targets are distinguished and much information about the involvement of these targets is at hand, it will be easy to develop better and more precise drug for treatment of diseases. In the current century, we will need more people with biotechnology expertise to drive the research for finding new and better medicinal agents.

Status of Available and Forthcoming Biotechnology Medicines
At present, 76 biotechnology medicines are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). A survey conducted in 2000 by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America shows that 369 biotechnology products are in the pipeline and undergoing different phases of clinical trials. These medicines target more than 200 diseases, including AIDS, cystic fibrosis, heart diseases, diabetes, hepatitis, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, asthma, cancer, arthritis, tuberculosis, and sickle cell disease. About 175 medicines are for cancer; 39 medicines are for infectious diseases as hepatitis, genital herpes, urinary tract infections, sepsis and 19 medicines for autoimmune diseases. These biotechnology medicines are glycoproteins, colony stimulating factors (CSFs), enzymes, hormones, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and vaccines. Many of these biotechnology medicines have significantly removed the patients' sufferings, and because of that, a huge number of AIDS patients are hoping to have longer and normal life.

Promise of Biotechnology to Health Care
The 21st century is considered as the 'platinum age' of medicine. It was estimated to invest more than $30 billion in R&D in 2001 alone. All these efforts on genetic research will enable scientists to develop more effective medicines. This century is called 'the century of biology'. Dr. George Poste, a distinguished pharmaceutical researcher, hopes that this century will also be the 'century of cures' as pharmaceutical companies take aim at the increasing number of targets or genes for medicines.

Pharmacists with adequate knowledge of biotechnology will have wider scope to play role in future drug development
The present world has become free for all. People have the option to move around the world to find the better scope not only to pursue their career but also to serve the humanity in the best possible way. The ultimate goal of research in bio-science is to find the way to improve the quality of life for patients and to ensure good health for all. Therefore, the development in health care system will be given the top priority as usual.

Biotechnology has already established itself as the driving force in pharmaceutical development; biotechnology medicines will play the major role in this program in coming time. Pharmaceutical biotechnology will continue to influence on the drug discovery process. There is no controversy over the notion that pharmacists will find a limitless scope if they really prepare themselves to work in biotechnology based companies.

In Bangladesh, pharmacists are yet unable to contribute to drug development due to lack of opportunity. However, this area could be a right choice for many enthusiastic pharmacy graduates and actually, there are handful scopes waiting outside Bangladesh.

In the current age of globalization, we never expect that our pharmacists will find their jobs only in Bangladesh. By ensuring a proper education as demanded by various nature of pharmacy profession, our graduates who find scopes for higher study in such technology-based subjects in abroad will be benefited tremendously. They will have options to work in biotechnology based pharmaceutical companies. On the other hand, this will eventually allow a country to increase science experts. When there will be sufficient experts in respective fields, even local pharmaceutical companies will step forward to setup their biotechnology based production units where our pharmacists can take over the full charge. Reasonably, pharmacy students must possess sufficient knowledge to achieve this goal. As an effective measure, it is the time possibly appropriate to revise the conventional pharmacy syllabus in Bangladesh; a careful incorporation of pharmaceutical biotechnology dealing with basics of currently emerging technologies will surely ensure a quality education.

Bangladesh is currently considered as the most promising developing country in south-east Asia for many reasons. This country has the potentiality to be an industrial as well as an agricultural power. Unfortunately, expected progress has not yet been made; the serious problems of this country are the political instability, nationwide corruption, poor law and order situation, and lack of well-formed infrastructure. We hope situation will change soon.

As a pharmacist, I wish that quality education in pharmacy will be assured in respective institutions, which will generate competent pharmacists who will be able to contribute significantly to the worldwide health care system.

The author is an assistant professor of the department of Pharmacy, North South University.