A multi-active biologic is a therapeutic with multiple factors that can influence a variety of biological pathways. Unlike traditional drugs that typically target one protein, pathway or mechanism, multi-active biologics can engage multiple signaling complexes simultaneously.

Most diseases are driven by numerous biological factors that are too intricate to treat with a single drug. By targeting diseases with multi-active therapeutics, there is a greater opportunity to address the cellular complexities of disease.

Multi-active biologics can be produced artificially or naturally.

An example of an artificially produced biologic is a mixture of synthesized small molecules that are screened for their ability to stimulate specific cellular interactions. These molecules are often genetically engineered versions of natural proteins with a known function. Artificially produced biologics have the potential to create targeted therapies that selectively interact with specific cell types (Su et al., 2020).

An example of a naturally produced multi-active biologic is a secretome. A secretome is the total set of substances released by a cell including, but not limited to proteins, lipids and growth factors (Xia et al., 2019). While mature cells have a limited set of substances that they can release, stem cells produce a secretome rich in natural molecules for resolving infections, promoting tissue regeneration and function and maintaining health (Md Fadilah et al., 2022). Additionally, stem cells secrete developmental factors abundant early in life that are also beneficial for regeneration but lacking later in life, making stem cell-derived secretome products promising therapies that can address age-related diseases.

For additional information, please see the publications below.

An advantage of multi-active biologics derived from secretomes is that they are cell-free. Traditional stem cell therapies involve the administration of live stem cells, but secretomes do not contain cells, thus significantly eliminating the risk of tumorigenicity and immune rejection.

Another advantage is that stem cell-derived secretomes contain all the bioactive components suggested to be involved in the regeneration, maintenance and differentiation of stem cells (Das et al., 2023). These secreted bioactive molecules can yield therapeutic benefits by restoring and maintaining the population of regenerative stem cells in various tissues and organs with potentially long-lasting therapeutic effects.

Other advantages of secretome therapies include: 1. Standardized and controlled manufacturing 2. Reduced manufacturing costs 3. Precise and controlled dosing 4. Versatile routes of administration: injection, inhalation or topical application (Li et al., 2022)

For additional information, please see the publications below.