Peptide Development Strategies

Peptide drug products continue to gain popularity in the pharmaceutical industry due to their high selectivity, high potency, and good safety profile. However, formulating peptides can present many challenges for drug developers because of their unique physicochemical properties. As polymers of amino acids, peptides occupy a therapeutic niche between small molecules and large biologics. They are typically water soluble, hydrophilic, and charged, so they are poorly absorbed across the skin and mucosal membranes, making systemic delivery via routes other than injection challenging. In addition, the environment within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is naturally geared to the digestion of peptides and proteins, presenting additional challenges for oral delivery.