Part 2: A Deeper Dive into Peptides from a Medical Perspective

Summary
  • Peptides proved their value in medicine before cosmetics: Many peptide ingredients used in skincare are inspired by peptide drugs that were first validated through clinical research.
  • GLP-1 peptides helped bring peptides into the spotlight: Early discoveries in the 1980s identified GLP-1, but the peptide broke down too quickly to be used as a drug.
  • A breakthrough came from Gila monster venom: Dr. John Eng discovered Exendin-4, a peptide that could stimulate insulin release and last far longer in the body, eventually leading to the first GLP-1 drug, Byetta.
  • Peptide therapies expanded rapidly: They are now used in treatments for diabetes, weight management, infections, cancer, wound healing, inflammatory conditions, and cardiovascular disease.
  • Peptide drugs are valuable because of their specificity: They bind precisely to cell receptors, improving effectiveness while reducing unwanted side effects and drug interactions.
  • Decades of clinical research support peptide therapies: Their safety, targeted action, and effectiveness have made peptides a growing and important field in modern medicine.

In Part 1 of this blog series, we discussed an overview of peptides and their role in various industries. To understand peptides in cosmetics, it's helpful to first examine their medical uses. Ideally, all cosmetic manufacturers, especially those riding the line of cosmeceuticals, should establish their products and ingredients in concrete clinical trials. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. One of the reasons I founded Sorevna was to address the gap between real science and effective marketing strategies. Not everything is what it's hyped up to be, and many things that gain no recognition, have proven to be exceptionally effective. Peptides, however, have become famous because they are so effective. I'm sure you are familiar with the infamous peptide GLP-1 (Ozempic, Wegovy, etc).

"Big things have small beginnings" ~David, Prometheus

Peptides went from a two-minute molecule to one of medicine's most transformative drug classes — and the science behind them continues to expand rapidly.

Humble Origins – The Discovery of GLP-1 Itself

Everything started with the post-doctorate research of Richard Goodman and Kay Lund at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1982 with the discovery of three peptides: glucagon, and two new peptides that would later be later known as GLP-1 and GLP-2. These very small structures (peptides) could induce radical changes in the behavior of cells. The downside: these structures were broken down in minutes, making them a poor candidate for a pharmaceutical intervention.
Approximately one decade would pass before true progress was achieved, and it was not at MGH.

Between 1990-1992, Dr. John Eng at the Veterans Administration Center in the Bronx, NY, had a fascinating discovery that venom from certain poisonous reptiles, namely the Gila monster, triggered synthesis and release of insulin from beta cells in the pancreas. The discovery came after the observation that the Gila monster was able to slow down its metabolism and maintain constant blood sugar levels even after long periods of not eating. After assessing the venom of the creature, a key peptide was discovered that he named Exendin-4. Upon administration of Exendin-4 in diabetic mice, he discovered effective blood glucose control for several hours, a breakthrough in the realm of GLP-1 peptides.  The half-life of Exendin-4 was 2.4 hours instead of the 2 minutes observed of the human GLP-1 described by Goodman and Lund. Approximately 10 years later, the first GLP-1 drug was born: Byetta.

Diverse Medical Applications

Over the next few years, a series of GLP-1 analogs would be created, leading to the wonder drugs that everyone is aware of today. The use of peptides did not stop with weight loss and diabetes management.  Applications for fighting antibiotic-resistant infections, cancer treatments, treating rare protein deficiencies, inflammatory conditions, wound healing, osteoporosis, and even cardiovascular disease were soon developed and are rapidly expanding.

Peptide Drugs – Why Are They So Special?

Patients constantly ask this question, and it basically boils down to three key elements:

  1. High specificity: Peptides are smaller than proteins and more specific with their binding targets (cell receptors), reducing the unwanted effects on other body systems. The less specific binding a drug has, the more likely for side effects.

  2. Effectiveness: The higher binding affinity leads to improved cellular response. Simply put, cells are like little people—the more effectively we communicate with them, the better they are at doing what we ask – unless they are teenager cells, and then all bets are off.

  3. Generally lower risk of drug interactions: Specific receptor targeting means fewer drug-to-drug interactions.

Conclusion

Peptides are a rapidly evolving field in medicine and pharmacotherapy that provide new treatment modalities with less side effects and better outcomes. The role of peptide-based therapies has been well established over the past several decades. Having been founded in science with rigorous randomized clinical trials, the safety and efficacy of these treatment modalities has been well documented.

James Wright

I started SOREVNA because the best foot and hand creams I'd seen in clinic weren't on shelves anywhere. We built formulations around the ingredients that actually move the needle — urea, ceramides, calendula — and we kept them clean, cruelty-free, and made for daily use.