Question

Consult the internet and find out how to make orally active protein pharmaceuticals. What is the major problem to be encountered?

Answer 1

Hint:- Orally active protein pharmaceuticals are protein tablets or capsules that can be taken orally or by mouth. These drugs are prepared by covering the drug with liposomes.

Complete step-by-step solution:- Proteinaceous drugs or protein drugs contain biologically active proteins, peptides etc. They can not be taken orally because when we take these drugs orally, they degrade into the alimentary canal digestive enzymes. Our stomach treats every proteinaceous drug as a simple protein. When the drug reaches the stomach and then small intestine, it degrades completely by the protein digesting enzymes and as we know, degraded drugs will pass either from urine or feces. So, the proteinaceous drug is of noise when given orally because it will not reach the site of action,that#39;s why proteinaceous drugs are given parenterally (beyond intestine).To counteract this problem or to make orally active protein pharmaceuticals, the drug is coated by a film
(for example, liposome) using penetration enhancers which are resistant to protein degrading enzymes
of the alimentary canal. So, when this liposome coated drug is given orally, it will not degrade in the
alimentary canal and reach the site of action. These proteins or peptides are used for the treatment of
and can also be used as vaccines.As we already mentioned, the major problem encountered in the administration of these pharmaceuticals is that when they are ingested orally, they are digested by the proteases present in the stomach before reaching the site of action. This is why proteinaceous pharmaceuticals are directly injected into the target site.

Note:- Oral drugs are better than intravenous or intradermal drugs because they are cheap and easy to use. Some orally active proteins that are successfully manufactured are hepatitis B, influenza,herpes etc.