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Which medicines have been made using recombinant DNA technology?

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A step-by-step diagram shows donor DNA and vector DNA cut with restriction enzymes to create overhangs, mixed and sealed with ligase to form recombinant DNA, which is introduced into bacterial cells. The recombinant DNA replicates as the cells divide, producing clones. — biotechnology Steps involved in the engineering of a recombinant DNA molecule.

Recombinant DNA technology has revolutionized medicine by enabling the large-scale production of therapeutic proteins and other substances that were previously difficult or unsafe to obtain from natural sources. By inserting specific human genes into host cells like bacteria or yeast, these organisms act as biological factories to synthesize high-purity medical products.123

Medicines and substances produced using this technology include:

Insulin: The first genetically engineered product to receive regulatory approval (1982), providing a synthetic human protein for the treatment of diabetes.42
Growth Hormone: Used to treat growth disorders; recombinant versions replaced the previous, limited supply derived from human cadavers.42
Blood-clotting factors: Essential proteins manufactured for medical use.32
Interferons: Proteins used in the treatment of various viral infections and cancers.12
Vaccine components: Recombinant technology is used to create vaccine antigens, such as those for human papillomavirus (HPV), which are prepared using viruslike particles.15
Blood cell stimulants: Proteins that stimulate the production of red and white blood cells.2
Clot-dissolving agents: Therapeutic proteins used in clinical settings.2