Converting a Peptide into a Drug: Strategies to Improve Stability and Bioavailability

Authors: Adessi C.; Soto C.

Source: Current Medicinal Chemistry, Volume 9, Number 9, May 2002 , pp. 963-978(16)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

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Abstract:

The discovery of peptide hormones, growth factors and neuropeptides implicated in vital biological functions of our organism has increased interest in therapeutic use of short peptides. However, the development of peptides as clinically useful drugs is greatly limited by their poor metabolic stability and low bioavailability, which is due in part to their inability to readily cross membrane barriers such as the intestinal and blood-brain barriers. The aim of peptide medicinal chemistry is, therefore, to develop strategies to overcome these problems. Recent progress in chemical synthesis and design have resulted in several strategies for producing modified peptides and mimetics with lower susceptibility to proteolysis and improved bioavailability, which has increased the probability of obtaining useful drugs structurally related to parent peptides. This review describes different experimental approaches to transforming a peptide into a potential drug and provides examples of the usefulness of these strategies.

Keywords: pseudopeptides; peptoids; azapeptides; azatides

Language: English

Document Type: Review article

Publication date: 2002-05-01

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Current Medicinal Chemistry covers all the latest and outstanding developments in medicinal chemistry and rational drug design. Each issue contains a series of timely in-depth reviews written by leaders in the field covering a range of the current topics in medicinal chemistry. Current Medicinal Chemistry is an essential journal for every medicinal chemist who wishes to be kept informed and up-to-date with the latest and most important developments.