Discovery of Peptide Drugs from Natural Sources

Abstract

All living organisms have their own arsenal of peptides that are responsible for vital biological functions. With an outstanding diversity of structures and modes of action, peptides can represent drug candidates in their natural form or serve as leads for the design of modified peptides. Some peptides extracted from natural sources are currently being used as therapeutics, whereas others are in the product pipelines of pharmaceutical companies. Nevertheless, a more general application of peptides has been delayed due to either real or perceived shortcomings in stability and bioavailability. Several chemical approaches are presently available to circumvent these potential shortcomings. This chapter emphasizes the remarkable range of applications and receptor specificities that are associated with peptides isolated from natural sources, and describes how knowledge from different disciplines is accelerating the application of peptide‐based therapies.