rethinkPeptides Search
Menu
RethinkPeptides

Research library — page 97

Browse more peptide research, methods and limitations.

Filter by topic, method, and evidence

You can select more than one topic or evidence level.

Clear filters

RPEP-10010 · 2025

GLP-1 Drugs and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Unexpected Urological Benefits

Association analysis found GLP-1 drugs were linked to improved benign prostatic hyperplasia outcomes, adding urological benefits to their expanding clinical profile.

Au, Hezekiah C T; Zheng, Yang Jing; Le, Gia Han; Wong, Sabrina; Teopiz, Kayla M; Kwan, Angela T H; Gill, Hartej; Badulescu, Sebastian; Valentino, Kyle; Rosenblat, Joshua D; Mansur, Rodrigo B; McIntyre, Roger S ·

RPEP-10011 · 2025

GLP-1 Drugs for Opioid Addiction: A New Treatment Frontier

Review of GLP-1 drugs for opioid use disorder treatment examines evidence that these peptide drugs modulate reward circuits to reduce opioid craving and use.

Au, Hezekiah C T; Lam, Pak Ho; Kabir, Fateen; Huang, Chen Lily; Dri, Christine E; Le, Gia Han; Kwan, Angela T H; Wong, Sabrina; Teopiz, Kayla M; McIntyre, Roger S ·

RPEP-10013 · 2025

C-Type Natriuretic Peptide Prevents Heart Failure: Endothelium and Fibroblast Sources

Study reveals endothelium- and fibroblast-derived CNP (C-type natriuretic peptide) prevents cardiac remodeling and heart failure through local paracrine signaling.

Aubdool, Aisah A; Moyes, Amie J; Perez-Ternero, Cristina; Baliga, Reshma S; Sanghera, Jaspinder Singh; Syed, M Taaha; Jaigirdar, Kareemah; Panesar, Anmolpreet K; Tsui, Janice C; Li, Yanming; Vasquez, Hernan G; Shen, Ying H; LeMaire, Scott A; Raffort, Juliette; Mallat, Ziad; Lu, Hong S; Daugherty, Alan; Hobbs, Adrian J ·

RPEP-10014 · 2025

Community Perspectives on GLP-1 Drugs: What Patients Really Think

Qualitative study of community perspectives and experiences with GLP-1 drugs captures patient voices on access, expectations, experiences, and concerns.

Auerbach, Nadja; Liu, Vivian N; Huang, David Roy; Clift, Ashley Kieran; Al-Ammouri, Mahmoud; El-Osta, Austen ·

RPEP-10015 · 2025

Novel NPY2R Agonist: Synergistic Anti-Obesity Effect With Existing Drugs

Novel NPY Y2 receptor agonist BI 1820237 showed synergistic anti-obesity efficacy when combined with existing weight loss agents, targeting a new peptide receptor for weight management.

Augustin, Robert; Oldenburger, Anouk; Baader-Pagler, Tamara; Zimmermann, Tina; Borghardt, Jens; Hecksher-Sørensen, Jacob; Baljuls, Angela; Reindl, Wolfgang; Krawczyk, Bartlomiej; Martel, Eric; Brennauer, Albert; Peters, Stefan; Grube, Achim; Rudkjaer, Lise Biehl; Haebel, Peter ·

RPEP-10018 · 2025

Lysine Peptide Length Determines Antimicrobial Activity: Structure-Activity Rules

Structure-activity study of epsilon-lysine peptides reveals that peptide length critically determines antimicrobial potency, establishing design rules for peptide antibiotics.

Aung, Thet Tun; Venktatesh, Mayandi; Periayah, Mercy Halleluyah; Ting, Darren Shu Jeng; Wang, Xiu; Goh, Eunice Tze Leng; Tun, Sai Bo Bo; Hua, Candice Ho Ee; Barathi, Veluchamy Amutha; Verma, Navin Kumar; Yue, Wang; Tan, Donald Tiang Hwee; Chan, Anita Sook Yee; Lakshminarayanan, Rajamani ·

RPEP-10023 · 2025

Survodutide for Obesity: Systematic Review of the GLP-1/Glucagon Dual Agonist

Systematic review of survodutide efficacy and safety for obesity consolidates evidence for this dual GLP-1/glucagon agonist approaching clinical use.

Awad, Abdelaziz A; Abdrabou Abouelmagd, Alaa; Mohammed, Fatma; Elettreby, Abdelrahman M; Mahmoud Marey, Mohamed; Aldemerdash, Mohamed A; Soliman, Samar M; Belal, Mohamed Mohamed; Abosheaishaa, Hazem ·

RPEP-10026 · 2025

Tirzepatide Provides Unintended Kidney Protection: An Emerging Signal

Analysis reveals tirzepatide provides unintended renal protective effects through dual GLP-1/GIP agonism, adding kidney benefits to its metabolic and cardiovascular profile.

Aydos, Dunya; Aksoy, Zeynep Busra; Unal, Mehmet Altay; Akcali, Kamil Can; Bitirim, Ceylan Verda; Turan, Belma ·

RPEP-10027 · 2025

Thymosin Alpha-1 Shows Antidepressant Effects: Small Study Results

Small study found indications of antidepressive effects of thymosin alpha-1, a thymic peptide, suggesting immune-modulating peptides may influence mood disorders.

Aynekulu Mersha, Daniël G; Fromme, Sarah E; van Boven, Frank; Arteaga-Henríquez, Gara; Wijkhuijs, Annemarie; van der Ent, Marianne; Bergmans, Raf; Baune, Bernard T; Drexhage, Hemmo A; Dalm, Virgil ·

RPEP-10028 · 2025

Pancreatitis Risk With GLP-1 Drugs: A Comprehensive Risk Assessment

Comprehensive analysis of pancreatitis risk with GLP-1 drugs considered alongside their metabolic benefits provides balanced risk-benefit assessment for clinical decision-making.

Ayoub, Mark; Chela, Harleen; Amin, Nisar; Hunter, Roberta; Anwar, Javaria; Tahan, Veysel; Daglilar, Ebubekir ·

RPEP-10030 · 2025

Metabolic STAMP Technology Deciphers How Pancreatic Peptides Control Insulin

Novel metabolic STAMP technology reveals how GPCR signaling by pancreatic peptides regulates insulin secretion at unprecedented molecular resolution.

Aziz-Zanjani, Mohammad Ovais; Turn, Rachel E; Hang, Yan; Asthana, Anushweta; LaBrie, Leilani Elizabeth; Mobedi, Mohammadamin; Xu, Lucy Artemis; Krawitzky, Michael; Kim, Seung K; Jackson, Peter K ·

RPEP-10031 · 2025

Tirzepatide Efficacy in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Study of tirzepatide dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist efficacy in HFpEF patients demonstrates improvements in heart failure symptoms, exercise capacity, and quality of life.

Azzam, Ahmed Y; Essibayi, Muhammed Amir; Farkas, Nathan; Azab, Mohammed A; Morsy, Mahmoud M; Elamin, Osman; Elswedy, Adam; Al Zomia, Ahmed Saad; Alotaibi, Hammam A; Alamoud, Ahmed; Atallah, Oday; Abukhadijah, Hana J; Dmytriw, Adam A; Baker, Amanda; Khatri, Deepak; Haranhalli, Neil; Altschul, David J ·

RPEP-10032 · 2025

Liraglutide for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: Real-World Prospective Data

Prospective real-world study of liraglutide for idiopathic intracranial hypertension confirms clinical benefit in reducing intracranial pressure through weight loss and potential direct effects.

Azzam, Ahmed Y; Essibayi, Muhammed Amir; Vaishnav, Dhrumil; Azab, Mohammed A; Morsy, Mahmoud M; Elamin, Osman; Elswedy, Adam; Atallah, Oday; Abukhadijah, Hana J; Dmytriw, Adam A; Baker, Amanda; Khatri, Deepak; Haranhalli, Neil; Altschul, David J ·

RPEP-10033 · 2025

Combining Troponin T and BNP Better Predicts Outcomes in Cardiac Sarcoidosis

Patients with both high hs-cTnT (>0.016 ng/mL) and high BNP (>140 pg/mL) had a 3.49-fold increased risk of adverse cardiac events compared to those with both markers low.

Baba, Yuichi; Kubo, Toru; Nabeta, Takeru; Matsue, Yuya; Kitai, Takeshi; Naruse, Yoshihisa; Taniguchi, Tatsunori; Tanaka, Hidekazu; Okumura, Takahiro; Yoshioka, Kenji; Kitaoka, Hiroaki ·

RPEP-10034 · 2025

Most GLP-1 Drug Trials Fail to Report What Participants Actually Ate

Of 129 AOM trials, only 36 (28%) collected dietary data, and only 10 (8%) actually reported diet outcomes — revealing a systematic gap in understanding how GLP-1 drugs interact with eating behavior.

Babazadeh, Demsina; Wyatt, Shawna; Steinberg, Francene M ·

RPEP-10035 · 2025

Liraglutide Plus Lifestyle Changes Reduces BMI in Obese Saudi Adolescents

Liraglutide plus lifestyle intervention significantly reduced BMI (p=0.003), total cholesterol (p=0.023), and LDL (p=0.05) in obese adolescents, but the treatment interaction effect was significant only through the first follow-up period (p=0.027).

Babiker, Amir; Alfaraidi, Haifa; Aljarallah, Gadah; Albaraki, Joud; Alharbi, Reem; Alsomali, Nouf; Alkhalaf, Abeer; Yenugadhati, Nagarajkumar; Al Juraibah, Fahad; Al Alwan, Ibrahim ·

RPEP-10037 · 2025

Machine Learning Discovers New Antimicrobial Peptides That Kill Drug-Resistant Bacteria

Two ML-identified peptides (GDST-038 and GDST-045) killed ESKAPE pathogens, achieved >3-log reduction in biofilm bacteria, eliminated S. aureus in 3D human skin models at ≥15 μM, and resisted bacterial resistance development through 22 passages.

Babuççu, Gizem; Vavilthota, Nikitha; Bournez, Colin; de Boer, Leonie; Cordfunke, Robert A; Nibbering, Peter H; van Westen, Gerard J P; Drijfhout, Jan W; Zaat, Sebastian A J; Riool, Martijn ·

RPEP-10038 · 2025

GLP-2 Slows Gut Contractions Partly by Releasing VIP in the Intestinal Wall

VIP antagonist (VIP 6-28) reduced GLP-2's inhibitory effect on neurally evoked ileal contractions, and GLP-2 exposure decreased VIP-positive nerve fibers in muscle layers — first evidence of VIP-mediated GLP-2 action in isolated gut tissue.

Baccari, Maria Caterina; Conti, Donata; Vannucchi, Maria Giuliana; Idrizaj, Eglantina ·

RPEP-10047 · 2025

Blood Peptide MR-proANP Predicts Whether Heart Rhythm Will Stay Normal After Cardioversion

MR-proANP above 311.5 pmol/L was the sole independent predictor of AF recurrence after electrical cardioversion, with a hazard ratio of 4.74 (95% CI: 1.59–14.07) and a positive predictive value of 83.3%. Patients with recurrent AF had significantly higher pre-cardioversion MR-proANP levels (314.45 [210.90–342.50] vs. 214.50 [138.97–264.72] pmol/L, p<0.05). Neither sST2 nor BNP independently predicted AF recurrence. Sinus rhythm was successfully restored in 83.6% (51/61) of patients initially.

Badoz, Marc; Serzian, Guillaume; Favoulet, Baptiste; Sellal, Jean-Marc; De Chillou, Christian; Laurent, Gabriel; Ecarnot, Fiona; Bardonnet, Karine; Seronde, Marie-France; Schiele, François; Meneveau, Nicolas ·

RPEP-10051 · 2025

Venom-Derived Peptides from Snails, Snakes, and Spiders Show Promise as Non-Opioid Pain Treatments

The review identifies multiple families of venom-derived analgesic peptides from cone snails, snakes, sea anemones, tarantulas, scorpions, and spiders. These peptides target key peripheral pain receptors including TRPV1, TRPV2, voltage-gated sodium, calcium, and potassium channels, and acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs). Animal studies demonstrate robust analgesic effects across various pain types. The specificity of these venom peptides for individual ion channel subtypes gives them potential advantages over existing analgesics.

Bagheri-Ziari, Sedigheh; Bagheri, Kamran Pooshang ·

RPEP-10058 · 2025

Can Myostatin Inhibitors Prevent the Muscle Loss Caused by GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs?

GLP-1 analogs cause significant muscle loss as a side effect of appetite suppression and reduced nutritional intake, creating a clinical problem for long-term weight management. Myostatin (MSTN) inhibitors — which dramatically increase muscle mass — are emerging as a potential solution, both to counteract GLP-1-associated sarcopenia and as standalone treatments for metabolic disorders including obesity and diabetes. Clinical trials are now investigating MSTN inhibitors alone and in combination with GLP-1 analogs.

Baik, Jongmin; Lee, Yun-Sil · Review

RPEP-10063 · 2025

Could Tirzepatide Replace CPAP Machines for Obesity-Related Sleep Apnea?

Evidence from the SURMOUNT-OSA and related trials shows tirzepatide produced clinically significant reductions in body weight, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI — the primary measure of sleep apnea severity), and systemic inflammation in patients with obesity-related OSA. Beyond improving sleep apnea itself, tirzepatide showed additional benefits for sleep quality and cardiovascular risk factors. By targeting both metabolic and structural contributors to OSA (weight loss reduces airway obstruction while metabolic improvements address systemic inflammation), tirzepatide addresses the condition from multiple angles simultaneously.

Bajpai, Jyoti; Saxena, Mehul; Agarwal, Utkarsh; Pradhan, Akshyaya ·

RPEP-10066 · 2025

Semaglutide Improves Health, Reduces Depression and Anxiety in Obese Heart Failure Patients Over One Year

Over one year, semaglutide treatment in 122 obese heart failure patients produced: BMI decrease of -2.23 kg/m² (95% CI: -2.71 to -1.75; p significant). HADS anxiety scores dropped from 5 to 3 points (p=0.037). HADS depression scores dropped from 6 to 3 points (p significant). KCCQ overall summary scores improved significantly. NYHA functional class and NT-proBNP levels also improved. Benefits were consistent across subgroups: HFrEF vs. HFpEF, BMI 30-35 vs. ≥35, ischemic vs. non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, and diabetic vs. non-diabetic patients.

Balata, Mahmoud; Sugiura, Atsushi; Hassan, Marwa; Rady, Mohamed; Christoph, Marian; Ibrahim, Karim; Becher, Marc Ulrich; Youssef, Akram ·

RPEP-10069 · 2025

PET Imaging Tracer for Brain Neuropeptide Y2 Receptors Faces Rapid Metabolism and Blood-Brain Barrier Challenges in Mice

N-[11C]methyl-(R)-JNJ-31020028 showed nanomolar affinity and high selectivity for murine NPY2R with no interaction with Y1, Y4, or Y5 subtypes. However, brain uptake peaked within 5 minutes and declined rapidly. P-glycoprotein inhibition with tariquidar increased brain uptake more than 3-fold at 15 minutes in hippocampus, thalamus, and striatum. Rapid peripheral metabolism left no intact tracer in the brain at 60 minutes in vehicle-treated mice. Metabolite-corrected brain-to-plasma ratios confirmed negligible tracer uptake without P-gp blockade. The study concludes that P-gp-mediated efflux is a major barrier to NPY2R imaging.

Bamminger, Karsten; Fernandes, Eduardo Felipe Alves; Zachhuber, Lena; Lopez-Martinez, Ines; Kuntner, Claudia; Langer, Oliver; Mairinger, Severin; Christoffersen, Berit Ø; Hacker, Marcus; Wanek, Thomas ·

RPEP-10075 · 2025

Official Guidance: Semaglutide Now Recommended for Fatty Liver Disease With Significant Scarring

The AASLD updated its practice guidance to incorporate semaglutide for treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) with moderate-to-advanced fibrosis. Semaglutide (Wegovy formulation, 2.4 mg/week subcutaneous) received accelerated FDA approval in August 2025 based on the ESSENCE trial, which showed: - MASH resolution without worsening fibrosis: 62.9% vs 34.3% placebo - Fibrosis improvement by ≥1 stage without worsening MASH: 37.0% vs 22.5% placebo The guidance recommends semaglutide for MASH with F2-F3 fibrosis, with careful monitoring for patients with compensated cirrhosis. Lifestyle modification remains the cornerstone alongside drug therapy.

Bansal, Meena B; Patton, Heather; Morgan, Timothy R; Carr, Rotonya M; Dranoff, Jonathan A; Allen, Alina M · Guideline

RPEP-10076 · 2025

NT-proBNP Peptide Biomarker Significantly Improves Heart Failure Risk Prediction Across 41,000 People

In 41,427 individuals without heart failure from 9 prospective cohorts followed for a mean of 11 years (4,599 incident HF cases): - A 2-fold higher NT-proBNP was associated with incident HF: HR 1.47 (95% CI: 1.38-1.56) - The association was consistent regardless of chronic kidney disease or atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease status - Adding NT-proBNP to traditional risk factors improved the C-statistic by 0.030 (95% CI: 0.021-0.040, P < 0.001) - High-sensitivity troponin T also predicted HF but its added discrimination was modest compared to NT-proBNP - The predictive value held even in high-risk subgroups where biomarker interpretation is traditionally challenging

Bansal, Nisha; Grams, Morgan E; Coresh, Josef; Matsushita, Kunihiro; Ballew, Shoshana H; Sang, Yingying; Surapaneni, Aditya; Ärnlöv, Johan; Bell, Samira; Berry, Jarett D; Damman, Kevin; de Lemos, James A; Dobre, Mirela; Hwang, Shih-Jen; Gansevoort, Ron T; Shlipak, Michael G; Schneider, Markus P ·

RPEP-10078 · 2025

Machine Learning Discovers a Potent Blood Pressure-Lowering Peptide from Highland Barley

The machine learning pipeline (using Gradient Boosted Decision Trees) successfully predicted ACE-inhibitory peptides from papain-hydrolyzed highland barley protein. The peptide FPRPFL was identified as the most potent ACE inhibitor with an IC50 of 1.18 μM. Enzyme inhibition kinetics, circular dichroism, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations characterized its binding mechanism. Network pharmacology analysis revealed multi-target, multi-pathway antihypertensive properties. The peptide also showed stability in simulated digestion conditions.

Bao, Xin; Zhang, Yiyun; Wang, Liyang; Dai, Zijian; Zhu, Yiqing; Huo, Mengyao; Li, Rong; Hu, Yichen; Shen, Qun; Xue, Yong ·

RPEP-10080 · 2025

Fish Skin Waste Yields Bioactive Peptides with Blood Pressure-Lowering and Antioxidant Properties

The optimized protamex-mediated protein hydrolysate (PrMPH) from fish skin waste showed high protein content with essential amino acids. ACE inhibitory activity reached 57.45 ± 0.53% at 2 mg/mL protein concentration. Antioxidant capability increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing protein content. Optimal hydrolysis conditions were 1.77% enzyme concentration, 35.33 min duration, 50.75°C, and pH 7.40. Physical characterization confirmed the material as amorphous with characteristic peptide bond signatures.

Baraiya, Ravi; Renuka, Vijayakumar; Rabindranath, Radhika Rajasree Santha; George, Joshy Chalil ·

RPEP-10090 · 2025

Semaglutide User Aspirated During Anesthesia Despite Extended Fasting and Residue-Free Diet

Despite discontinuing semaglutide six days before surgery, adhering to a 24-hour residue-free diet, and completing a 12-hour fast — exceeding standard preoperative fasting guidelines — the patient experienced large-volume regurgitation during anesthesia induction requiring urgent airway management. Postoperative chest CT confirmed aspiration-related inflammatory changes in the lungs. A critical contributing factor was the patient's failure to disclose semaglutide use during preoperative evaluation because she didn't consider it a medication. A planned preoperative gastric ultrasound was also omitted due to a protocol breach, which would have revealed retained gastric contents.

Barbosa Santos, Leonardo; Muniz da Silva, Leopoldo; Silveira, Saullo Q; Nersessian, Rafael S F; Matheus, Giulia D; Mizubuti, Glenio B; Edson Vieira, Joaquim ·

RPEP-10092 · 2025

Weight Loss Treatments May Help Mental Health — but Also Carry Psychiatric Risks

The review identifies a dual-edged relationship between weight-loss interventions and psychiatric outcomes: Benefits: Both bariatric surgery and incretin-based therapies (GLP-1 receptor agonists) can improve metabolic health and, in some cases, mental well-being — likely through reduced inflammation, improved self-image, and metabolic normalization. Risks: Post-bariatric surgery, studies show increased risks of mood episodes, self-harm behaviors, and altered metabolism of psychiatric medications (due to changes in gut absorption). For GLP-1 receptor agonists specifically, concerns have emerged about potential links to depression and suicidality, though the evidence is still being evaluated. The authors recommend thorough psychiatric assessment before initiating any weight-loss intervention and long-term psychiatric monitoring after treatment.

Barbuti, Margherita; Weiss, Francesco; Perugi, Giulio ·

RPEP-10096 · 2025

Antimicrobial Peptide Combined with Chlorhexidine Kills Oral Biofilms and Promotes Bone Healing

Synoeca-MP and chlorhexidine showed synergistic antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against oral pathogens at reduced concentrations. The synergistic combination was stable in healthy human saliva but degraded as periodontal disease severity increased. At low synergistic doses, the combination was non-cytotoxic, promoted periodontal ligament cell proliferation and migration, inhibited osteoclastogenesis (bone resorption), and increased mineralized matrix formation in both ligament cells and SaOs-2 osteoblast-like cells.

Barin, Ingrid Aquino Reichert; da Silva, Johnny Carvalho; Ramos, Raquel Figuerêdo; Lima, Stella Maris de Freitas; Cantuária, Ana Paula de Castro; Silva, Poliana Amanda Oliveira; Dantas, Elaine Maria Guará Lôbo; Martins, Danilo César Mota; de Oliveira, Nelson Gomes; Martínez, Osmel Fleitas; de Almeida, Jeeser Alves; Ramada, Marcelo Henrique Soller; Franco, Octávio Luiz; Rezende, Taia Maria Berto ·

RPEP-10101 · 2025

Comparing Diet and Drug Approaches to Obesity: How GLP-1 Drugs Stack Up Against Mediterranean and Keto Diets Long-Term

This review compares long-term obesity management strategies including the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), very low-energy ketogenic therapy (VLEKT), naltrexone/bupropion, and the GLP-1 receptor agonist peptide liraglutide. The MedDiet offers sustainable cardiovascular benefits with moderate weight loss. VLEKT produces rapid weight loss but has sustainability concerns. Both liraglutide and naltrexone/bupropion promote significant weight loss and improve metabolic markers, but long-term adherence and side effects remain open questions for both pharmacological approaches.

Barrea, Luigi; Boschetti, Mara; Gangitano, Elena; Guglielmi, Valeria; Verde, Ludovica; Muscogiuri, Giovanna · Review

RPEP-10102 · 2025

How Ireland Decides Who Gets Liraglutide for Weight Loss — And Saves Millions Doing It

Ireland's Managed Access Protocol (MAP) for liraglutide (Saxenda) approved 52.2% of the 7,927 physician applications submitted in its first year. By targeting reimbursement to the patient subpopulation most likely to benefit cost-effectively, the MAP contained spending to approximately €3.1 million in 2023 — compared to an estimated €5.5 million if all applications had been approved. Approved patients differed from denied patients in key characteristics including age, HbA1c, and BMI, suggesting the MAP successfully selected a higher-risk subgroup where the drug offers the most value.

Barrett, Rosealeen; Smith, Amelia; Gorry, Claire; Doran, Stephen; Barry, Michael; McCullagh, Laura · Observational Retrospective

RPEP-10109 · 2025

Liraglutide Causes Weight Loss Primarily From Fat While Shifting the Body to Burn More Fat for Fuel

After 6 months of liraglutide treatment in 11 obese adults: Body composition changes: - Total weight loss: -10.5 kg (P < 0.001) - Fat mass loss: -8.7 kg (P < 0.001), predominantly from trunk: -5.1 kg (P < 0.001) - Lean tissue loss: only -1.7 kg (P = 0.02) — largely preserved Metabolic changes (24-hour whole-room calorimetry): - 24h energy expenditure: no significant change (metabolic rate maintained) - 24h sleeping metabolic rate: no significant change - Fat oxidation: +352 kcal/day (P = 0.03) - Carbohydrate oxidation: -422 kcal/day (P = 0.003) - Protein oxidation: stable The preservation of energy expenditure despite weight loss is notable because metabolic slowing typically accompanies weight loss and drives regain.

Basolo, Alessio; Paolucci, Giordano; Piaggi, Paolo; Angeli, Valentina; Bechi Genzano, Susanna; Fierabracci, Paola; Vignali, Edda; Bologna, Chiara; Salvetti, Guido; Chiovato, Luca; Natali, Andrea; Krakoff, Jonathan; Landi, Alberto; Santini, Ferruccio ·

RPEP-10111 · 2025

Engineers Doubled the Germ-Killing Power of a Sea Turtle Egg Peptide While Cutting Its Toxicity

Researchers engineered three modified versions of TEWP, a defensin-like antimicrobial peptide originally found in sea turtle eggs. Reversing the peptide sequence and attaching a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) doubled the antimicrobial activity while significantly reducing toxicity to human red blood cells. All variants were effective against 19 microbial strains, with the strongest activity against Listeria monocytogenes at concentrations of just 2–4 μg/mL. The peptides were successfully produced at scale using engineered Pichia pastoris yeast and showed resistance to heat, protease degradation, and high salt concentrations — properties critical for real-world pharmaceutical use.

Batman, Saime Gülsüm; Kesmen, Zülal · In Vitro

RPEP-10121 · 2025

New Enzyme-Free Method Could Make Cyclic Peptide Drugs Much Cheaper to Produce

The researchers demonstrated enzyme-free biochemical cyclization of peptides under mild aqueous conditions using a single, readily available chemical reagent: - Successfully produced a 17-mer cyclic peptide from wild-type human eye lens γ-crystallin protein - Produced a set of 10-residue cyclic peptides from recombinantly expressed polypeptide precursors - The method works without disulfides, using only canonical amino acids - Products were identified via complex mass spectrometry fragmentation patterns - Linear and cyclic peptide forms were chromatographically separated - The approach works with both natural protein sources and recombinantly expressed precursors

Behboodian, Ali; Serebryany, Eugene ·

RPEP-10126 · 2025

Peptide-Based Nanofibers Deliver Two Cancer Drugs Directly to Brain Tumors

The peptide nanofiber successfully co-delivered 3-bromopyruvate (a glycolysis inhibitor) and temozolomide (a standard chemotherapy drug) to glioblastoma cells. The system used an MMP-9-responsive linker for controlled, on-demand drug release at the tumor site. The nanofiber was functionalized with the falGea peptide for EGFRvIII-targeted delivery and gH625 for blood-brain barrier penetration. In both 2D and 3D U-87 MG glioblastoma cell cultures, the combination therapy delivered via the nanofiber platform demonstrated therapeutic efficacy. Testing with a dynamic 3D in vitro blood-brain barrier model confirmed that the gH625 peptide enhanced transport across the BBB.

Bellavita, Rosa; Prisco, Marina; Palladino, Sara; Barra, Teresa; Donadio, Federica; Esposito, Emanuela; Esposito, Rodolfo; Panico, Giuliana; Pisano, Jessica; Venditti, Paola; Valiante, Salvatore; Falanga, Annarita; D'Errico, Gerardino; Lombardi, Assunta; Galdiero, Stefania ·

RPEP-10132 · 2025

Machine Learning Tool Predicts Which Peptides Can Penetrate Cells for Drug Delivery

The CPP prediction model achieved superior performance compared to existing state-of-the-art methods: MCC of 0.854, Recall of 0.860, and AUC of 0.984. The model was trained on a balanced dataset of 967 CPPs and non-CPPs with 10-fold cross-validation and validated on two independent test sets. The uptake efficiency predictor — trained on 140 CPPs — achieved competitive results with Recall of 0.761 and AUC of 0.690. The model is interpretable, identifying which physicochemical properties, structural features, and atomic compositions are most important for cell penetration. The tool uses Extremely Randomized Trees as its core algorithm.

Bernardes-Loch, Rayane Monique; de Oliveira Almeida, Gustavo; Brasiliano, Igor Teixeira; Meira, Wagner; Pires, Douglas E V; Baracat-Pereira, Maria Cristina; de Azevedo Silveira, Sabrina ·

RPEP-10137 · 2025

Zavegepant Migraine Nasal Spray Reaches the Bloodstream in 30 Minutes and Is Well Tolerated at All Doses Tested

Across both studies (144 total participants), zavegepant nasal spray demonstrated rapid absorption with a median time to peak plasma concentration (Tmax) of approximately 0.54 hours (~32 minutes) after a single 10 mg spray. Drug exposure increased proportionally with dose, and there was no evidence of accumulation with repeated once-daily dosing. Safety was favorable: in the single-dose study, 26% of zavegepant-treated participants reported adverse events versus 17% on placebo. In the multiple-dose study, 75% of zavegepant participants reported adverse events versus 63% on placebo. Most events were mild and self-resolving. No clinically relevant ECG changes or drug-induced liver injury signals were observed at any dose tested (up to 40 mg single and daily).

Bertz, Richard; Donohue, Mary; Madonia, Jennifer; Bhardwaj, Rajinder; Matschke, Kyle T; Anderson, Matt S; Croop, Robert; Liu, Jing ·