From the Guidelines
Therapeutic peptides, such as GLP-1 agonists, are a crucial component of modern medicine, offering targeted treatment with minimal side effects for various diseases, including type 2 diabetes and obesity, as evidenced by recent studies 1.
Key Points
- Therapeutic peptides are short chains of amino acids used as medications to treat various diseases by mimicking natural body proteins or disrupting disease processes.
- These drugs include insulin for diabetes, GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide (Ozempic) for weight management and diabetes, vasopressin for blood pressure control, and oxytocin for labor induction.
- Peptide therapies also include antimicrobial peptides like colistin for resistant infections, cancer treatments such as goserelin (Zoladex), and cosmetic applications like botulinum toxin (Botox).
- The advantages of therapeutic peptides include high specificity, reduced side effects, and biological compatibility, as noted in a recent study 1.
- However, they typically require injection rather than oral administration because stomach enzymes would digest them.
- The use of GLP-1 agonists, such as semaglutide, is recommended for adults with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control, as they have been shown to reduce the risk of all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events, and stroke 1.
Mechanism of Action
- Peptide therapeutics work by precisely binding to specific receptors or targets in the body, allowing for targeted treatment with minimal disruption to other biological processes.
- GLP-1 agonists, for example, bind to the GLP-1 receptor, stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion and reducing glucagon secretion, as described in a study on the clinical pharmacology of GLP-1 receptor agonists 1.
Clinical Applications
- Therapeutic peptides have a wide range of clinical applications, including the treatment of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease.
- The American College of Physicians recommends adding a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitor or GLP-1 agonist to metformin and lifestyle modifications in adults with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control, based on high-certainty evidence 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Exenatide injection is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The use of therapeutic peptides, such as exenatide, is as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus 2.
- Key points:
- Indication: Improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus
- Limitations of use: Should not be used for the treatment of type 1 diabetes
- Contraindications: History of severe hypersensitivity to exenatide or any of the excipients in exenatide injection 2
From the Research
Therapeutic Peptides Overview
- Therapeutic peptides have been widely used in various medical applications, including the treatment of cancer, pathogens, and neurodegenerative diseases 3, 4, 5.
- The controllability and specificity of peptides make them ideal for targeting therapeutic delivery systems and as therapeutic agents that interfere with the essential functions of pathogens and tumors 3.
- Peptides can mimic natural protein structures or parts thereof, agonize receptors, and be conjugated to other molecules that will self-assemble 3.
Applications of Therapeutic Peptides
- Therapeutic peptides have been used in the treatment of various diseases, including cancer, type 2 diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases 4, 5, 6, 7.
- GLP-1 receptor agonists, a type of therapeutic peptide, have been used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and have shown to be effective in reducing blood glucose levels and body weight 7.
- Therapeutic peptides have also been used in the treatment of cancer, with peptides being used to target specific organs and organelles 3.
Characteristics of Therapeutic Peptides
- Therapeutic peptides have a wide range of therapeutic effects, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antithrombotic effects 5.
- Peptides can be produced and modified using both chemical and biological methods, which has helped to overcome the inherent drawbacks of peptides and has allowed the continued advancement of this field 4.
- The molecular characteristics of therapeutic peptides, including their size, structure, and charge, can affect their efficacy and specificity 6.