CSBio

Parkinson’s Disease manifests symptomatically with affected motor and non-motor neurons alike. The protein ɑ-synuclein plays a critical role in disease progression; ɑ-synuclein belongs to a class of proteins that are considered intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). IDPs are difficult to target with small molecules as they are conformationally flexible until, in this case, they become bound to lipid rafts in neuronal cell membranes. A new paper in Nature Scientific Reports shows how researchers were able to develop a peptide, AmyP53, that competitively inhibits the binding of ɑ-synuclein to ganglioside lipids, preventing its oligomerization and halting the progression of symptomatic disease in an animal model. The novel use of a synthetic peptide to, as the researchers say, “target the target” of a disease causing protein is an incredible example of the versatility of peptide therapeutics. This work underscores the potential of targeting specific protein-lipid interactions with peptide therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders. #Neurodegeneration #PeptideScience #DrugDevelopment #PeptideInnovations https://lnkd.in/ghS6P7ge

Feeding the? world sustainably hinges on understanding plant development. ?? ?? A recent paper in Nature Communications showcases the power of synthetic peptides as a tool in understanding developmental pathways in wheat root development and drought tolerance. The peptide TaCLE24b acts as a regulator, binding to the protein TaCLV1 and orchestrating lateral root formation, crucial for water and nutrient uptake. Key findings from this paper include: ?TaCLE24b peptide is primarily expressed in roots and its binding to TaCLV1 is important for promoting root growth. The TaCLE24b peptide enhances the interaction between two proteins, TaCLV1 and TaSG-D1, promoting phosphorylation and degradation of TaSG-D1 to facilitate lateral root development. ?Applying synthetic TaCLE24b enhances root outgrowth, and rescues growth in TaCLE24b mutants. ?TaCLE24b expression increases under drought stress, and manipulating its levels directly affects drought tolerance; this is likely due to the ability of TaCLE24b to regulate stomatal opening to moderate water loss. This discovery presents avenues for developing novel strategies to enhance wheat production, particularly in drought-prone regions.? Synthetic peptides are powerful tools as both potential agricultural inputs and reagents for mechanistic biological investigation. #PlantScience #Agriculture #Biotechnology #DroughtTolerance #Wheat #Peptides #Research #Innovation https://lnkd.in/gAJvAauh

As rising antibiotic resistance becomes a concern, researchers are developing antimicrobial peptides as alternative therapeutics to traditional antibiotics. Intracellular bacterial infections pose a particular challenge, as conventional antibiotics are not able to effectively penetrate host cells to target pathogens. Nanopeptides can be engineered with specific domains that allow broader functionality to address this particular challenge. Research recently published in Science Magazine highlights how a group of researchers engineered nanopeptides that are able to enter cells and specifically target bacterial invaders. These nanopeptides self-assemble into functional units that are able to kill bacteria by disrupting cell membranes with significantly reduced toxicity to host tissues. Notably, bacteria did not develop resistance to these peptides over prolonged treatment, an essential property to make them useful in expanding the arsenal of tools clinicians have to handle antibiotic resistant infections. ?? ?? ?? #peptides #peptidetheraputics #peptideresearch #antibioticresistance

February is Heart Health Month, and we're re-sharing some important research on a topic close to our hearts ??. Heart disease remains a leading cause of death in the US, and while prevention is key, effective treatments are crucial for those living with acute and chronic heart conditions. A group at University Hospital Heidelberg (UKHD) showed that a synthetic peptide derived from the S100A1 protein (S100A1ct) could improve cardiac function. Studies in animal models demonstrate that S100A1ct enhances calcium cycling in heart cells, leading to improved contractility and survival in heart failure. This peptide, especially when targeted to heart cells, represents a potential new therapy for heart failure. At CSBio, we're big believers in the potential of peptide therapeutics, as they've shown promise in treating a variety of conditions. Plus, they're scalable – something we have firsthand experience with! #HeartHealthMonth #HeartDisease #PeptideTherapeutics #Biotech #Innovation #Healthcare Check out the publication here: https://lnkd.in/gU59GMjQ

Our very own Hanson Chang is now part of the Entrepreneurial Business Network at the Peptide Drug Hunting Consortium.?? CSBio is thrilled at the prospect of collaborating to drive innovation in the peptide synthesis industry. We believe that by sharing expertise and working together, we can accelerate the development of innovative techniques that: ?improve efficiency ?? ?reduce costs ?? ?minimize the environmental impact of peptide production ?? ??. We are eager to contribute our knowledge and experience to this collaborative effort and look forward to the breakthroughs that will undoubtedly emerge. ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? #peptidetherapeutics #peptideinnovations #peptideresearch #healthcareinnovation #biotechnology

The peptide therapeutic semaglutide has proven to be highly effective for weight loss; however, its use can be limited for persons who experience trypanophobia, the extreme fear of needles. Individuals with anxiety disorders or past medical trauma are particularly susceptible to trypanophobia, and the resulting delays in treatment can lead to serious health complications. Rani Therapeutics is tackling this challenge head-on by developing needle-free drug delivery solutions for patients who rely on injectable medications. Their innovative RaniPill platform delivers drugs orally and has shown comparable results to subcutaneous injections. This ingestible capsule is designed to withstand the harsh environment of the stomach, allowing it to effectively deliver a range of therapeutic molecules, including peptides like semaglutide, antibodies, and nucleotides. While oral semaglutide for type 2 diabetes typically requires much higher doses than injections, the RaniPill achieves similar clinical effects at doses comparable to those used in injectable formulations. Because patient compliance is significantly higher with oral medications, the RaniPill has the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. Learn more about Rani Therapeutic’s recent pre-clinical results demonstrating comparable efficacy between orally administered semaglutide via RaniPill and subcutaneous delivery. #peptidetheraputics #drugdiscovery #peptide #drugdevelopment ?????? ?? https://lnkd.in/gymXZgC8

In 2025, companies developing GLP-1 agonists continue to draw investors. One startup is looking to improve patient prescription compliance with their peptide therapeutic pipeline.?Verdiva Bio, a London-based biotech company who recently raised $410 million in Series A funding, is developing an oral GLP-1 agonist for weight loss that they believe will be advantageous over competitors due to its weekly dosing. Their GLP-1 agonist could be the first in its class, with the goal of improving patient compliance with prescribed medication regimens. Similar drugs are administered in daily doses, resulting in some patients struggling to adhere to treatment. Requiring fewer doses may reduce patient costs as well as making medications accessible for more patients. The company is developing three peptide obesity drugs, including an oral GLP-1 agonist, an oral amylin agonist, and a long-acting subcutaneous amylin agonist. Verdiva plans to start a Phase 2 study of the GLP-1 agonist this year.? Read the press release here: https://lnkd.in/ebpzKqxX #peptides #peptidetheraputics #healthcareinnovation #obesity

If 2023 was the year that peptides went mainstream, then 2024 was the beginning of the peptide renaissance. I remember back in 2023, I received the Economist (a weekly newspaper) and the front cover was on GLP-1 therapeutics. In a later month, on a day driving into work I was listening to The Daily (a podcast by the New York Times), and that day’s story was on semaglutide. When the top subscribed podcast on Apple is covering Ozempic, you know peptides have gone mainstream. Well 2024 has been quite the year for peptides. From incredible investments in peptide manufacturing (Bachem’s CHF 750million and Corden’s $980M facility expansions, Lilly’s $9B tirzepatide expansion in Indiana, and Novo Nordisk’s $4.1B expansion in North Carolina), to a slew of funding in radiopharmaceuticals (Novartis’s work with PeptiDream, Aktis Oncology Series B funding), to David Baker winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his AI work in protein design, to the commercialization of the first ever EPA approved agricultural peptide (Elemental Enzymes’ Vismax), to multiple companies investing in their own obesity drugs (Roche’s multiple GLP-1/GIP drugs, Metsera’s GLP-1 injectable, Kailera’s GLP-1/GIP drug, and Antag Therapeutics to name a few). Yep, it's an exciting time for peptides. For us, in 2024 we shipped our peptide synthesizers to 16 different countries as we continue to globally support peptide research through commercial production. To add a cherry on top and a nice way to close out the year, our team finished the factory acceptance testing + shipped out a 300L commercial scale peptide synthesizer, and immediately followed it to start the build of a 60L system. Hope everyone has a great holiday. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. ??? See you in 2025!

Position with a great professor!

We're looking for a passionate content writer to join our team part-time! If you LOVE peptides and have a journalistic flair, this might be the perfect opportunity for you. The ideal candidate will be a graduate student or postdoc in the peptide space, with a strong pulse on the latest developments. You'll need to craft content that resonates with both academic researchers and industry professionals, covering everything from peptide research and chemistry to manufacturing and industry news. If peptides are your passion and you can engage a diverse audience, we'd love to hear from you! Contact us at [email protected] to apply.