Precision Endocrine Peptides (PEPs) – from Hormones to Innovative Medicines
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.
At MBX Biosciences, we are pioneering peptide therapeutics to overcome these challenges.
Our mission is to restore health, simplify management and enable greater access for patients with endocrine diseases.
Our Platform
We have created a world-class technology platform to design PEPs. PEPs are innovative peptide hormone analogs.
The biological activity of a peptide hormone is intimately related to its chemical structure. Understanding the chemistry is key to knowing how and where to modify the peptide to enhance its pharmacologic effects. Richard DiMarchi, PhD, and his research team are recognized for innovating new chemical approaches to peptide drug discovery. Leveraging this expertise, we are advancing a pipeline of PEPs that have been selectively modified using state-of-the-art and proprietary chemical modifications to enhance the stability and pharmacokinetics compared to the native peptide hormone. Further, we aim to extend the duration of action of the PEP thereby necessitating few administrations.
Through use of our platform technology, we are pursuing discovery opportunities in a variety of endocrine disorders. For more information about our current PEP product candidates, visit our PIPELINE page.
Our platform, coupled with our clinical expertise, allows us to expand in a number of directions as we continue to advance our pipeline. For more information about our current programs in development, visit our Pipeline page.
