Biologics For Atopic Dermatitis In Dogs

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208 – March, 2026

By Barbara E. Magera MD

Biological agents (known as biologics) interfere with a specific pathologic pathway that causes disease. Biologics are made from living organisms/living cells, while traditional drugs are derived from plants or chemically synthesized.

Pharmacology is the study of how drugs work. It’s often referred to as the drug’s ‘mechanism of action’. Biologics alter or interfere with immune mechanisms. The study of pharmacology requires knowledge of chemistry and biochemistry. The study of biologics requires an understanding of immunology.

Common examples of biologics include blood products, vaccines, antibodies, genetic material, and more. Many of the biologics available today for humans or animals work by interfering with the immune system. A major theme in immunology is redundancy–meaning there are various “pathways” to achieve a final endpoint. For example, using a biologic to dampen or mitigate a heightened immune response, characteristic of an autoimmune disease, also depresses the normal immune surveillance of precancerous cells. Patients treated with a biologic agent are immunosuppressed and are at marked increased risk for infection. Live virus vaccines are contraindicated in both human and canine patients treated with a biologic agent. Additionally, these patients warrant routine monitoring for malignancy–particularly leukemia or lymphomas.

Click here to read the complete article
208 – March, 2026

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Posted by AnthonyA on Mar 22 2026. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.