DRUG DELIVERY - Design of peptide analogues for improved absorption

Results of these studies show that the required characteristics for a potent, specific and absorbable peptide drug can be obtained using a peptide of just 4-6 amino acid residues, provided that it has a total surface area of around 350 -2 and a polar surfaces area of less than 50 -2. Such a molecule is predicted to have a biological activity in the nanomolar range and to exhibit a respectable target specificity. A case is also presented, however, to show that the molecule will have only a very limited peptide character, with the overall conclusion that successful 'peptide' drugs will probably not qualify as peptides at all. Barlow D. and Satoh T., J. Controlled Release, 29, 3, …