Peptides are short chains of amino acids, the same building blocks that make up proteins. The difference between a peptide and a protein is simply length: peptides contain 2–50 amino acids; proteins contain 50+. This smaller size gives peptides unique properties: they're absorbed more easily, can cross biological barriers more readily, and are highly specific in their receptor targeting.
The human body naturally produces hundreds of peptides with critical functions: hormones (insulin, glucagon), neurotransmitters (endorphins), immune modulators, and growth factors are all peptides or peptide-derived. Therapeutic peptide therapy leverages this biology, introducing specific peptides to direct desired physiological responses.
Over 7,000 naturally occurring peptides have been identified in the human body. Therapeutic peptide research has yielded 60+ FDA-approved drugs, with 150+ more in clinical trials, one of pharma's fastest growing categories.
The key advantage of peptides over traditional drugs is specificity: a peptide like CJC-1295 signals the pituitary to release growth hormone through a highly targeted mechanism, versus a drug that might broadly affect multiple systems. This specificity translates to cleaner side effect profiles and more predictable outcomes.
