Ingestive Peptides – An Emerging Tool for Diagnostics and Therapeutics: A Review

Abstract

Peptides are relatively safe, well tolerated, highly selective and efficacious. Consequently, in recent years, peptides have acquired an increased interest as therapeutics in pharmaceutical research and development. In clinical trials, about 140 peptide therapeutics are currently being tested. In medicine and biotechnology, peptides have acquired a broad range of applications. More than 7000 peptides in nature have been recognized, and these peptides also have critical roles including actions as hormones, growth factors, neurotransmitters, ion channel ligands, or anti-infectives. Peptides are often excellent biomarkers and can be used for diagnostic purposes. Metabolic diseases and oncology are the major disease areas nowadays driving the clinical use of peptide drugs. We think that the future peptide drugs development will be a new tool for the several pathologies amelioration.