Evolution of Peptide Biopharmaceuticals

Abstract

Peptides are small molecule substances involved in numerous essential physiological functions such as human growth and development, stress, regulation of the emotional state, sexual behavior, and immune responses. Their mechanisms of action are based on receptor-ligand interaction, which leads to highly selective effects. These properties and low toxicity allow them to be considered potent drugs. The production of peptide preparations became possible at the beginning of the 20th century after a method for the selective synthesis of peptides was developed. However, after the successful synthesis of the first peptide drugs, many issues related to increasing stability, bioavailability, half-life, and the ability to move through cell membranes remained unresolved. The review considers the historical path of development of the synthesis and production of peptides, as well as modern approaches to the creation of peptide drugs and their use in biopharmaceutics, including the development of original peptide drugs in Russia.