Precision Endocrine Peptides (PEPs) – from Hormones to Innovative Medicines
Paul Wright
VP-CMC, MBX Biosciences
Endocrine organs secrete peptide hormones (a chain of amino acids) that bind to cell surface receptors and trigger intracellular effects. Too much or too little of a peptide hormone can disrupt appropriate biological function. In these instances, therapeutic peptides acting as hormones have been used to replace or block endogenous biology with the goal to restore homeostasis and appropriate endocrine function.
Therapeutic proteins have traditionally been developed to mimic naturally occurring hormones, but as drugs they have drawbacks. Following administration, they are rapidly broken down by enzymes in the blood and digestive system and then swiftly cleared (within minutes to hours) by the liver and kidney. Consequently, repeated doses of peptide drugs may be needed, and this can result in variability in the peptide concentration in the blood, which may impact the biological effect of the drug.
To overcome these challenges, MBX Biosciences is pioneering PEPs. PEPs are engineered to have optimized pharmaceutical properties and to transform peptides into innovative medicines.