Book excerpt: A Comprehensive Guide to Crucial Attributes of Therapeutic Proteins in Biological Pharmaceuticals With this book, Dr. Raju offers a valuable resource for professionals involved in research and development of biopharmaceutical and biosimilar drugs. This is a highly relevant work, as medical practitioners have increasingly turned to biopharmaceutical medicines in their search for safe and reliable treatments for complex diseases, while pharmaceutical researchers seek to expand the availability of biopharmaceuticals and create more affordable biosimilar alternatives. Readers receive a thorough overview of the major co-translational modifications (CTMs) and post-translational modifications (PTMs) of therapeutic proteins relevant to the development of biotherapeutics. The majority of chapters detail individual CTMs and PTMs that may affect the physicochemical, biochemical, biological, pharmacokinetic, immunological, toxicological etc. properties of proteins. In addition, readers are guided on the methodology necessary to analyze and characterize these modifications. Thus, readers gain not only an understanding of CTMs/PTMs, but also the ability to design and assess their own structure-function studies for experimental molecules. Specific features and topics include: Discussion of the research behind and expansion of biopharmaceuticals Twenty chapters detailing relevant CTMs and PTMs of proteins, such as glycosylation, oxidation, phosphorylation, methylation, proteolysis, etc. Each chapter offers an introduction and guide to the mechanisms and biological significance of an individual CTM or PTM, including practical guidance for experiment design and analysis An appendix of biologic pharmaceuticals currently on the market, along with an assessment of their PTMs and overall safety and efficacy This volume will prove a key reference on the shelves of industry and academic researchers involved in the study and development of biochemistry, molecular biology, biopharmaceuticals and proteins in medicine, particularly as biopharmaceuticals and biosimilars become ever more prominent tools in the field of healthcare.