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biopharmaceutical

American  
[bahy-oh-fahr-muh-soo-ti-kuhl] / ˌbaɪ oʊˌfɑr məˈsu tɪ kəl /

noun

  1. a medical drug derived from biological components through biotechnology.

    Transgenic plants are used to make biopharmaceuticals.


biopharmaceutical British  
/ ˌbaɪəʊˌfɑːməˈsjuːtɪkəl /

adjective

  1. of or relating to drugs produced using biotechnology

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of biopharmaceutical

First recorded in 1980–85; bio- ( def. ) + pharmaceutical ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mapp Biopharmaceutical has a potential treatment that protected against the Bundibugyo strain in preclinical studies, and an early-stage clinical trial showed it is safe in humans.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

The other drug being considered for a trial is a monoclonal antibody called MBP134, developed by Mapp Biopharmaceutical, which targets Ebola viruses including Bundibugyo.

From Barron's • May 19, 2026

Biopharmaceutical company Incyte jumped 8.6% after saying it would buy back up to $2 billion of its stock.

From Seattle Times • May 14, 2024

Biopharmaceutical firm CSL Behring manufactures the gene therapy treatment Hemgenix, which allows patients with hemophilia to produce a protein that makes their blood clot in open wounds and halt prolonged bleeding.

From Washington Times • Nov. 24, 2022

Thus, public-private partnerships for drug development are essential, such as Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator, a multinational effort.

From Washington Post • Jan. 28, 2022

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