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[email protected] Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2012, 19, 4451-4461 4451 Peptides As Therapeutics with Enhanced Bioactivity D. Goodwin1, P. Simerska1 and I. Toth*,1,2, 1The University of Queensland, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences; 2School of Pharmacy, St. Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia Abstract: The development of techniques for efficient peptide production renewed interest in peptides as therapeutics. Numerous modi- fications for improving stability, transport and affinity profiles now exist. Several new adjuvant and carrier systems have also been developed, enhancing the immunogenicity of peptides thus allowing their development as vaccines. This review describes the established and experimental approaches for manufacturing peptide drugs and highlights the techniques currently used for improving their drug like properties. Keywords: Peptide, drug delivery, vaccine, manufacture, bioavailability, peptide therapeutic, immunogenicity, peptide drug, peptide synthe- sis, clinical trials. INTRODUCTION side-chain reactivity, degree of modification, incorporation of un- natural components, in addition to the required purity, solubility, Natural and synthetic peptides have shown promise as pharma- stability and scale. There are two strategies for peptide production - ceutics with the potential to treat a wide variety of diseases. This chemical synthesis and biological manufacturing. potential is often overshadowed by the inability of the peptides to reach their targets in an active form in vivo. The delivery of active Chemical Peptide Synthesis peptides is challenging due to inadequate absorption through the Chemical synthesis has been used for the production of peptides mucosa and rapid breakdown by proteolytic enzymes. Peptides are in both research and industry and led to the development of the usually selective and efficacious, therefore need only be present in majority of peptide drugs [2].