Current Trends On Peptide Drug Discovery

By Daniel West


While most preclinical pharmacologists and biotechnology experts may not always agree, peptide therapeutics provides noticeable commercial success. Over 50 peptide drugs, with yearly sales of more than $1 billion each, were sold in 2010. These drugs have ability to slow down metabolic diseases and tumor growth. Scientists are carrying out research to establish whether peptides can function as vaccines, contraceptives, and antimicrobials. The quality of health care services is set to improve with the peptide drug discovery and its development.

There are host of sources of peptides; they are readily available in multicellular and unicellular organisms. Additionally, they can be acquired from chemical libraries and recombinant. They provide a greater chemical diversity than other classes of biological molecules. Due to their easy degradation, peptides are administered through injections. Since they occur naturally, peptides are safer than artificial medication. They have a higher selectivity, efficacy, and specificity. Their bioactivities are important for drug discovery and include amino acids and coordination of major physiological processes. Therefore, they can neutralize complications at a faster rate than synthetic medications.

When peptides degrade completely, they turn into proteinogenic amino acids without necessarily releasing harmful metabolites. Synthetic drugs produce toxic metabolites that may cause other complications and they might have serious side effects. The popularity of peptides has been increasing on a fast rate over the past few years. Their short half-life ensures that metabolites circulate in the blood for a short duration.

In contrast to antibodies and bigger proteins, peptides have ability to penetrate deep into the tissue at a fast rate. Additionally, their manufacturing cost is significantly lower than recombinant antibodies and proteins. Due to their high stability and activity, these drugs can be put in storage at a room temperature. Most of them are acquired from polypeptides or protein and they can intermingle with membrane proteins. Activation or deactivation of some target receptors is possible when small amount of peptides are utilized. Currently, very few peptides antagonists that promote ligand-receptor reactions are available on the market.

The health care market has experienced a significant increase in the number of peptides that are launched each year. Most of them are peptide hormones and derivatives that promote hormone action. The increase in popularity of these drugs began back in 2010. However, some of medications that were launched in 2010 have been withdrawn.

Currently, scientists are conducting a series of clinical trials to determine the efficacy of peptides. Those under trials are believed to have properties of healing several infectious disease and oncology. They are introduced into the body through intravenous and subcutaneous techniques.

The major challenge that is hindering commercialization of peptides is its administration procedure and easy degradation. Researchers are trying to come with solutions that allow administration of peptides in a form that is not easily degraded in the digestive system. The collaboration of stakeholders in the health industry and scientist is likely to bear fruits.

Peptide optimization strategies seem to be working. For instance, the drugs are being encapsulated with mesoporous silica particles to lower their degradability. Other optimization strategies entail attachment of polymers like polyethylene glycol groups to the drugs.




About the Author: