A Summary On Peptide Drug Discovery And Progress

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.

After peptides undergo the degradation process, they produce proteinogenic amino acids. Unlike artificial medications that produce toxic metabolites, these drugs are safe. The toxic metabolites cause series side effects and can sometimes cause other complications such as ulcers. The safety nature of peptides might have facilitated its popularity that is being witnessed. Its short half-life property has some health advantages since the human body does not have to deal with metabolites for a long time.

These drugs can access deep tissues faster than bigger antibodies and proteins. Recombinant proteins as well as antibodies tend to have a high production cost than peptides. The performance of these drugs can be maintained at top-notch level even when they are stored at room temperatures. Since they are derived from protein and peptides, they can react with membrane proteins. It is possible to activate and deactivate target receptors using small quantity of peptides. Today, the market has few peptides that can facilitate ligand-receptor interactions.

The number of peptide medications that are being deployed to the health care market is increasing tremendously. These drugs are peptide derivatives and hormones, which fuel hormone action. The number of these medications being introduced to the market has been on an upward trend since 2010. At times, these medications are placed in the market and then withdrawn after a short period.

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.




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