Development of probiotics as biologic drugs

Abstract

In the United States, probiotics that are intended to be used to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease in humans or other animals and that affect the structure or the function of the body are considered to be drugs. This article provides a brief overview of the historical basis of US regulation of drugs and biologics and explores the legal, regulatory, and policy considerations for probiotics as biologic drugs for humans. © 2008 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.