Peptides, Key Building Blocks for Drug Sciences 

Peptides have undergone a remarkable resurgence as therapeutic agents in recent years. Positioned between small molecules (<1000 Da) and proteins—two well-established classes of therapeutics—peptides offer the specificity and potency of larger biologics while exhibiting minimal or no immunogenicity. Additionally, their smaller size and amenability to chemical synthesis make them more accessible and cost-effective to produce, potentially combining the benefits of both therapeutic approaches.

Despite their advantages, native peptides often suffer from unfavorable pharmacokinetic properties, primarily due to their inherent conformational instability. Addressing these limitations presents a compelling challenge for peptide chemists and protein engineers.

In this presentation, we will highlight selected examples from our research focused on the synthesis of biologically active peptides.