Peptide therapeutics, a class of drugs composed of short chains of amino acids, have undergone a remarkable journey, from an initial period of intense discovery to a period of decline, and now a powerful resurgence. This report details the history of peptide therapeutics, exploring the factors that defined each of these eras.

The initial discovery and therapeutic use of insulin in the 1920s marked the dawn of peptide therapeutics . However, the true “heyday” for peptide research and development occurred from the 1950s through the 1980s. During this period, advancements in protein purification, sequencing, and synthesis technologies enabled the identification and characterization of numerous peptide hormones and their therapeutic potential . This era saw the approval of nearly 40 peptide drugs worldwide, including synthetic versions of oxytocin and vasopressin, laying the groundwork for the modern peptide drug landscape . The 1970s and 1980s, in particular, are often cited as a golden age for the discovery of new peptide hormones and their physiological roles.

Continued on our Substack: https://blog.peptide.partners/p/the-rise-fall-and-renaissance-of