Peptide therapeutics continue to expand its applications as research continues to expand the potential range of peptide-based pharmaceuticals by engineering enhanced pharmaceutical properties to focus on treatment targets. Moreover, continuous research and development is in progress to enhance the central nervous system, to improve the oral bioavailability of peptide therapeutics, and to extend the half-life period of peptide therapeutics. Growth of the peptide therapeutics market is mainly driven by the increasing adoption of peptide therapeutics.
Compared to protein-based-biopharmaceuticals, peptides therapeutics are generally associated with lower production complexity, which results in lower production costs, which increases adoption of peptides therapeutics. The peptide therapeutics market growth is also driven by the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, technological advancements in peptide therapeutics, and rising investments for the development of novel drugs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases, and cancer, are the leading causes of death and disability worldwide.
Peptides offer favorable possibilities in targeted drug delivery for cancer due to their high biocompatibility, ease of modification, small sizes, discernment, and high specificity. The increasing prevalence of cancer and increasing demand for peptide therapeutics for treatment of cancer are the factors responsible for the market growth. Moreover, the outbreak of COVID-19 (Sars-CoV-2) has offered lucrative growth opportunities for the peptide therapeutics market. Novel peptides are being developed and repurposed as therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19. For instance, in March 2021, Hoth Therapeutics, Inc. provided an update on preclinical study on HT-002 for the prevention and/or treatment of Sars-CoV-2.
The novel peptide therapeutic, HT-002, targets inhibition of COVID-19 is under development at Virginia Commonwealth University. Moreover, in March 2021, Valo Therapeutics and ImmunoScape partnered to identify immunogenic peptides for the development of Coronavirus vaccine. Furthermore, in March 2021, Medolife Rx, Inc. announced positive results in a safety and toxicity study conducted on its polarized drug candidate derived from a small molecular peptide found in scorpions, for the treatment of COVID-19. Such initiatives by market players or by pharmaceutical companies are expected to propel the peptide therapeutics market growth.
Therefore, COVID-19 is expected to have a positive impact on the peptide therapeutics market as peptide drugs are being considered as a treatment option for COVID-19. However, stringent regulatory requirements for drug approvals, the high cost of developing drugs, and instability issues of peptide therapeutics are expected to restraint the peptide therapeutics market growth.
