Few discoveries have been as relevant in the history of medicine as the discovery of information in DNA in the early 1950s. This great progress laid the foundations of modern biotechnology, and since then, scientists have worked tirelessly to decode the sequence letter by letter. human genome, which has made possible the development of tools that have made great strides in medicine and are key to improving the treatment of many diseases.
DNA is a molecule that stores all the genetic information that makes up a living being and is “written” with a combination of four molecules that are represented by the letters: G, A, T, C. A human being is a DNA sequence with 3.2 billion of these letters. The order in which these four basic elements are arranged form different genes, and each gene contains the instructions needed to form a specific protein. For this reason, the genome is sometimes spoken of as a book of letters and words.
With the help of genetics, it will be possible to improve the prevention of diseases before they become more serious
All this knowledge has made it possible to relate the genes of a specific cell to the origin of diseases, because many of them are due to incorrectly activated or deactivated genes. An example of the importance of understanding DNA and its changes is the awarding of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2020. The work of biochemist and microbiologist Emmanuelle Charpentier and professor of chemistry and molecular biology Jennifer Doudna were awarded for developing a precise editing technique. of the genome: CRISPR / Cas9 technology known as “genetic scissors”, which allows the modification of genes by cutting the modified fragments, which are related to the development of diseases.
In this direction, the Director General of Amgen Biotechnology in Spain and Portugal, Fina Lladós, is convinced that “the next scientific advances will take place in the field of biological sciences through the study of human genetics, which are already demonstrated your ability to solve the greatest challenges of humanity. Genetics remains one of the most powerful tools we can apply to understand how nature works. “
The target drug will be possible for each patient due to biotechnology
A new era of biotechnological innovation
Since its inception in 1980, the founders of Amgen have seen that the cure for many diseases lies in each of us, so they decided to take advantage of their knowledge of molecular biology to differentiate themselves from other pharmaceutical companies. They focused on analyzing the complexity of diseases, better understanding their origins and discovering innovative therapies that could improve patients’ lives.
For all these reasons, this company is at the forefront of the most modern biological treatments and works to provide answers in areas as important as oncology, hematology, cardiology, nephrology, cardiovascular disease, inflammatory diseases and bone metabolism.
Knowledge of the information contained in DNA is essential in the development of new biological drugs for the treatment of cancer or cardiovascular disease.
For example, in the field of cancer or cardiovascular disease, Amgen scientists have discovered the key genetic factors behind them thanks to the contribution of its subsidiary CODE Genetics, a world leader in genetic research, which published in 2019 the most accurate map of the human genome. “There is enough raw information in a single human genome to fill a small library. The data from different branches of homicide (the science of studying a large number of molecules) are like pixels that can be joined together to build a clearer picture of how the disease takes root and develops, ”comments Fina Lladós.
Moreover, technologies based on the large-scale study of many genes, proteins and metabolites have the potential to provide new biomarkers for the earlier diagnosis of diseases. This makes it easier for clinical trials to be more successful so that they can be approved earlier and reach patients quickly. But this technology not only streamlines the process, but also allows progress to an increasingly targeted drug, depending on the genetic information and individual characteristics of each patient. It will be possible to predict how your disease will progress and the ability to prevent disease before it gets worse can be improved.
The founders of Amgen knew how to see that the cure for many diseases lies in each of us
In this regard, the company is working on research into small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a type of lung cancer that accounts for up to 85% of cases. The company’s researchers were able to discover an effective inhibitor of a subtype of the KRAS gene mutation, present in one of eight new diagnoses of this type of cancer, a target that was considered “untreatable” until recently. In addition, for years, Amgen has been investigating new ways to fight cancer through immunotherapy, a new class of biologic therapies aimed at increasing the immune system’s ability to detect and destroy cancer cells; This is the case with the innovative BiTE® technology platform.
Immunoncology is precisely one of the areas of research in which more progress is being made in drug design due to genetic engineering, a key piece of modern biotechnology that has changed the paradigm of drug discovery. Genetic engineering allows scientists to make complex molecules that would be impossible to obtain by chemical synthesis. While the first biotech drugs were modified versions of human proteins, complex molecular structures can now be designed using sophisticated technologies.
The company currently has more than 139 international clinical trials, essential to transform the fifty molecules under development into effective and safe biological drugs. He started his activity in Spain in 1990, with which this year he celebrates his 30th birthday. Based in Barcelona, Amgen Spain is the fifth largest market in the world for the company and the third in Europe.
White blood cells that attack cancer cells
Reaction to Covid-19
When the pandemic hit, Amgen decided to put all his knowledge and skills at the service of the emergency situation we were in. In April, deCODE Genetics, a subsidiary of Amgen, decided to use its DNA sequencing capabilities to track the spread of the coronavirus by studying genetic mutations in SARS-CoV-2, the Covid-19 virus. It measured the durability of human antibodies against the virus and proved to be a definitive study. The deCODE results confirmed the concern about the effect that asymptomatic people have on the spread of the virus. It has been shown once again that understanding DNA has been essential to advance.