Which of the following is NOT considered a biologic?

The correct answer is a chemically synthesized polypeptide. Biologics are generally defined as products that are derived from living organisms through complex manufacturing processes. They typically include a wide range of products such as vaccines, blood components, and therapeutic proteins, which are often produced through biotechnological methods or from biological sources.

A chemically synthesized polypeptide, on the other hand, is produced through synthetic chemical processes rather than isolated or developed from living organisms. This distinction is crucial because the regulatory pathways and considerations differ significantly between biologics and synthetic compounds. While polypeptides can have therapeutic effects and may even mimic biological processes, their method of synthesis distinguishes them from biologics, which are regulated under different standards.

The other options, a virus, an antitoxin, and a blood component, are all considered biologics because they originate from biological systems—viruses are infectious agents, antitoxins are produced by the immune system or through immunization, and blood components are derived from human or animal blood.