The science behind
every protocol.

Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (Nature Portfolio)

Wang L, Wang N, Zhang W, et al. Therapeutic peptides: current applications and future directions. Signal Transduct Target Ther. 2022;7(1):48.

Landmark review of the peptide drug landscape, covering over 100 approved drugs and emerging therapeutic modalities. Over 2,000 citations.

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery

Muttenthaler M, King GF, Adams DJ, Alewood PF. Trends in peptide drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2021;20(4):309–325.

Systematic analysis of the FDA peptide pipeline, including barriers to oral bioavailability and strategies to overcome them. Approximately 1,800 citations.

Chemical Biology & Drug Design

Craik DJ, Fairlie DP, Liras S, Price D. The future of peptide-based drugs. Chem Biol Drug Des. 2013;81(1):136–147.

Classic prognostic review predicting major growth in peptide therapeutics. A foundational reference with over 3,500 citations.

Drug Discovery Today (Elsevier)

Fosgerau K, Hoffmann T. Peptide therapeutics: current status and future directions. Drug Discov Today. 2015;20(1):122–128.

Survey of over 60 approved peptide drugs with market data and regulatory status. Over 2,200 citations.

Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry (Elsevier)

Lau JL, Dunn MK. Therapeutic peptides: historical perspectives, current development trends, and future directions. Bioorg Med Chem. 2018;26(10):2700–2707.

Historical arc and current development context for peptide drugs. Key milestones from insulin to GLP-1. Approximately 900 citations.

New England Journal of Medicine

Wilding JPH, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med. 2021;384(11):989–1002.

Pivotal Phase 3 RCT showing 14.9% mean body-weight reduction with semaglutide 2.4 mg. Launched the modern obesity-drug era. Over 5,000 citations.

New England Journal of Medicine

Frías JP, Davies MJ, Rosenstock J, et al. Tirzepatide versus semaglutide once weekly in patients with type 2 diabetes (SURPASS-2). N Engl J Med. 2021;385(6):503–515.

Head-to-head RCT: tirzepatide (dual GIP/GLP-1) superior to semaglutide in HbA1c reduction and weight loss. Over 3,000 citations.

New England Journal of Medicine

Jastreboff AM, Aronne LJ, Ahmad NN, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1). N Engl J Med. 2022;387(3):205–216.

Up to 22.5% body-weight reduction in the 15 mg group. Highest efficacy recorded for a peptide obesity drug at the time. Over 2,800 citations.

New England Journal of Medicine

Marso SP, Daniels GH, Brown-Frandsen K, et al. Liraglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes (LEADER). N Engl J Med. 2016;375(4):311–322.

First GLP-1 trial to demonstrate significant cardiovascular risk reduction (MACE). Paradigm-shifting for type 2 diabetes management. Over 8,000 citations.

New England Journal of Medicine

Lincoff AM, Brown-Frandsen K, Colhoun HM, et al. Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in obesity without diabetes (SELECT). N Engl J Med. 2023;389(24):2221–2232.

20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in obese patients without diabetes. Expanded indication rationale. Over 2,500 citations.

Nature

Zasloff M. Antimicrobial peptides of multicellular organisms. Nature. 2002;415(6870):389–395.

Foundational review of AMP mechanisms and innate immunity. Remains the most-cited AMP paper. Over 8,500 citations.

Nature Biotechnology

Hancock REW, Sahl H-G. Antimicrobial and host-defence peptides as new anti-infective therapeutic strategies. Nat Biotechnol. 2006;24(12):1551–1557.

Strategic roadmap for AMP clinical development, including resistance mechanisms and immunomodulatory activity. Over 4,200 citations.

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery

Mookherjee N, Anderson MA, Haagsman HP, Davidson DJ. Antimicrobial host defence peptides: functions and clinical potential. Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2020;19(5):311–332.

Up-to-date clinical pipeline review covering defensins, cathelicidins, and synthetic AMPs against drug-resistant pathogens. Over 1,500 citations.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases

Magana M, Pushpanathan M, Santos AL, et al. The value of antimicrobial peptides in the age of resistance. Lancet Infect Dis. 2020;20(9):e216–e230.

AMPs as a strategic response to the AMR crisis. Clinical translation challenges and solutions. Over 1,000 citations.

American Journal of Translational Research

Lei J, Sun L, Huang S, et al. The antimicrobial peptides and their potential clinical applications. Am J Transl Res. 2019;11(7):3919–3931.

Comprehensive catalogue of clinical AMP candidates covering antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antitumor activities. Over 900 citations.

Frontiers in Chemistry

Errante F, Ledwoń P, Latajka R, Rovero P, Papini AM. Cosmeceutical peptides in the framework of sustainable wellness economy. Front Chem. 2020;8:572923.

Classification of cosmeceutical peptides (signal, carrier, neurotransmitter-inhibitor, enzyme-inhibitor) and green synthesis overview. Over 400 citations.

Skin Pharmacology and Physiology

Proksch E, Segger D, Degwert J, Schunck M, Zague V, Oesser S. Oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides has beneficial effects on human skin physiology: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2014;27(1):47–55.

RCT demonstrating oral collagen peptides improve skin elasticity and hydration. Most-cited collagen cosmetic trial. Over 1,200 citations.

Dermatology and Therapy

Vaghef-Mehrabany E, Ranjbar F, Behrooz M, Eftekhari MH, Ebrahimi-Mameghani M. Collagen supplements for aging and wrinkles: a paradigm shift in the fields of dermatology and cosmetics. Dermatol Ther. 2022;12(2):279–301.

Systematic review of RCTs on collagen peptide supplementation for skin aging. Summarizes 19 trials. Over 600 citations.

Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology

Pai VV, Bhandari P, Shukla P. Topical peptides as cosmeceuticals. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2017;83(1):9–18.

Mechanism-by-mechanism review of 40+ cosmetic peptides including Matrixyl, Argireline, GHK-Cu, and Snap-8. Over 500 citations.

British Journal of Pharmacology

Rae MT, Lamb DJ, Bhala N, et al. Oxytocin and vasopressin: signalling, behavioural modulation and potential therapeutic effects. Br J Pharmacol. 2022;179(4):693–708.

Comprehensive review of OT/AVP receptor signalling, social and stress behaviour, and psychiatric disease targets. Over 700 citations.

Endocrinology (Oxford Academic)

Bhatt DL, Lincoff AM, Gibson CM, et al. Oxytocin, vasopressin, and social behavior: from neural circuits to clinical opportunities. Endocrinology. 2022;163(9):bqac111.

Neural circuit mapping and translational potential for autism, addiction, and PTSD treatment. Over 400 citations.

Trends in Pharmacological Sciences (Cell Press)

Cahill CM, Walwyn W, Taylor AMW, Pradhan AAA, Evans CJ. Allostatic mechanisms of opioid tolerance beyond desensitization and downregulation. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2016;37(11):963–976.

Molecular mechanisms of tolerance to endogenous opioid peptides (endorphins, enkephalins). Key to pain management. Over 700 citations.

AIMS Neuroscience

Yeung AWK, Tzvetkov NT, Zengin G, et al. Neuropeptides in psychiatric diseases: an overview with focus on depression and anxiety disorders. AIMS Neurosci. 2022;9(1):74–114.

Systematic overview of neuropeptides as biomarkers and therapeutic targets in anxiety and depression. Covers CRF, NPY, and oxytocin.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Shaw G, Lee-Barthel A, Ross ML, Wang B, Baar K. Vitamin C-enriched gelatin supplementation before intermittent activity augments collagen synthesis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017;105(1):136–143.

Mechanistic RCT showing collagen peptides stimulate ligament and tendon collagen synthesis during exercise. Over 900 citations.

Nutrients (MDPI)

Kirmse M, Oertzen-Hagemann V, de Marées M, Bloch W, Platen P. Prolonged collagen peptide supplementation and resistance exercise training affects body composition in recreationally active men. Nutrients. 2019;11(5):1069.

RCT: collagen peptides plus resistance training produced significant lean mass gain versus placebo. Over 500 citations.

British Journal of Nutrition

Zdzieblik D, Oesser S, Baumstark MW, Gollhofer A, König D. Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men. Br J Nutr. 2015;114(8):1237–1245.

Key RCT on collagen peptides for sarcopenia in older adults. Fat-free mass +4.2 kg versus placebo. Over 800 citations.

Pharmaceuticals (MDPI)

Jozwiak P, Kuczynska-Sicinska J, Gwacior M, et al. Multifunctionality and possible medical application of the BPC 157 peptide. A literature and patent review. Pharmaceuticals. 2025;18(2):185.

Most recent comprehensive review of BPC-157 covering tendon, muscle, GI healing, angiogenesis, and the nitric oxide pathway.

Food Chemistry (Elsevier)

Nielsen SD, Beverly RL, Qu Y, Dallas DC. Milk bioactive peptide database: a comprehensive database of milk protein-derived bioactive peptides and novel visualization. Food Chem. 2017;232:673–682.

Reference database of milk bioactive peptides. Foundational resource for the field. Over 600 citations.

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (Taylor & Francis)

Nielsen SD, Liang N, Rago L, et al. Bioactive milk peptides: an updated comprehensive overview and database. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2024;64(27):9931–9945.

2023 updated database with 4,000+ milk peptides with documented bioactivities including antihypertensive, opioid, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory.

European Journal of Nutrition

Möller NP, Scholz-Ahrens KE, Roos N, Schrezenmeir J. Bioactive peptides and proteins from foods: indication for health effects. Eur J Nutr. 2008;47(4):171–182.

Systematic survey of food bioactive peptides including antihypertensive (ACE inhibitors IPP/VPP), antioxidant, and immunostimulatory. Over 1,000 citations.

Current Nutrition Reports (Springer Nature)

Koirala D, Bhattarai K, Sapkota MR, Thapa S, Budhathoki B. Dairy milk protein-derived bioactive peptides: avengers against metabolic syndrome. Curr Nutr Rep. 2023;12(2):256–270.

Mechanistic overview of dairy peptides targeting hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidaemia.

Frontiers in Bioscience

Haubner R, Decristoforo C. Radiolabelled RGD peptides and peptidomimetics for tumour targeting. Front Biosci. 2009;14:872–886.

Foundational paper on RGD-peptide-based PET/SPECT tumour imaging. Integrin αvβ3 targeting principle. Over 500 citations.

Theranostics

Fani M, Maecke HR, Okarvi SM. Radiolabeled peptides: valuable tools for the detection and treatment of cancer. Theranostics. 2012;2(5):481–501.

Theranostic peptide concept using the same peptide scaffold for simultaneous tumour diagnosis and radiotherapy. Over 700 citations.

Cancer and Metastasis Reviews

Beer AJ, Schwaiger M. Imaging of integrin αvβ3 expression. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2008;27(4):631–644.

Clinical data on ¹⁸F-RGD-PET imaging for angiogenesis and metastasis detection in solid tumours. Over 800 citations.

Annual Review of Phytopathology (Annual Reviews)

Montesinos E. Functional peptides for plant disease control. Annu Rev Phytopathol. 2023;61:259–285.

Definitive review of peptide biopesticides covering hundreds of candidates, 18 commercialised products, and novel modes of action against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and nematodes.

Frontiers in Plant Science

Rajput NA, Jian Q, Wang H, Zhang M, Dou D. Application of antimicrobial peptides in plant protection: making use of the overlooked merits. Front Plant Sci. 2023;14:1139539.

AMP application in crop protection as eco-friendly alternatives to chemical pesticides. Mechanisms and field trial data.

Journal of the American Chemical Society (ACS)

Merrifield RB. Solid phase peptide synthesis. I. The synthesis of a tetrapeptide. J Am Chem Soc. 1963;85(14):2149–2154.

The invention of solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1984. The most-cited peptide chemistry paper. Over 10,000 citations.

Chemical Reviews (ACS)

El-Faham A, Albericio F. Peptide coupling reagents, more than a letter soup. Chem Rev. 2011;111(11):6557–6602.

Definitive reference for SPPS coupling reagents (HATU, HBTU, DIC/Oxyma, etc.). Essential synthetic toolbox. Over 3,500 citations.

Chemical Reviews (ACS)

Isidro-Llobet A, Kennemur JL, Sherwood J, et al. Liquid-phase peptide synthesis (LPPS): a third wave for the preparation of peptides. Chem Rev. 2022;122(16):13516–13546.

Comprehensive 2022 review of LPPS as a scalable, greener alternative to SPPS for industrial peptide manufacturing.

Chemical Society Reviews (Royal Society of Chemistry)

Lenci E, Trabocchi A. Peptidomimetic toolbox for drug discovery. Chem Soc Rev. 2020;49(11):3262–3277.

Systematic toolbox of peptidomimetic strategies (β-peptides, azapeptides, stapled peptides) for improved stability and bioavailability. Over 700 citations.