Preclinical and clinical pharmacology of biotherapeutic agents:: Saccharomyces boulardii

Probiotic agents are living microorganisms that, upon ingestion, exert health benefits beyond inherent general nutrition. In this context, we must differentiate between biotherapeutics as approved drugs and dietary supplements and food products containing probiotic bacteria that are not considered drugs. At present the only biotherapeutic agent which is prescribable in some European countries, indicated to relieve specific diseases, is the yeast Saccharomyces, boulardii. In this review we consider the various preclinical and clinical aspects of biotherapeutics as basic drugs and the biotherapeutic powers of their use in the treatment of some surgical enteropathies.