Peptides Beyond GLP-1
Nisarg Shah@globalnisarg
−0.4%
since Oct 9
The idea
I believe peptides are becoming pharma's next big platform, not just a weight-loss story. The core sits in big pharma and specialists already selling approved peptide drugs for things like psoriasis, cholesterol, and rare hormone disorders, anchored by the two companies leading GLP-1 innovation. Smaller allocations go to trial-stage biotechs and peptide-guided cancer treatments, since some of those will fail, with a small cash buffer. I'm planning to hold this for years, and I'd rethink it if the non-obesity approvals stopped coming.
What it owns
- Large drugmakers already selling new peptides for diseases other than obesity demonstrate broad adoption of the platform. · Johnson & JohnsonIts pill-form peptide for plaque psoriasis demonstrates the platform reaching immune diseases as approved therapy., Merck & Co., Inc.It brought peptides into cholesterol management, one of the largest disease markets, with its once-daily pill form., Novartis AGIts radioligand cancer drugs use peptides to guide radiation to tumors, growing a targeted oncology business.27%
- These companies proved peptide drugs can treat diseases far beyond obesity, testing them in heart, kidney, liver and sleep disorders. · Eli Lilly and CompanyIt is the largest seller of peptide drugs and keeps expanding approvals into heart, kidney and liver disease beyond weight loss., Novo Nordisk A/SIt started the peptide wave and continues testing semaglutide in heart, kidney and liver disease beyond weight loss.24%
- Mid-size companies built around peptide platforms have drugs earning money, showing the model works outside giant corporations. · Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc.It proved a peptide specialist can produce winners outside obesity with its blood cancer drug and through its partnership on psoriasis therapy., Ascendis Pharma A/SIt makes long-acting versions of hormone peptides that require less frequent dosing for rare endocrine disorders., Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Inc.It sells a peptide for rare genetic obesity forms that shows the class reaching patients conventional GLP-1 drugs cannot help.21%
- Peptides that carry radiation or drugs straight to tumors extend the platform into oncology with precision targeting. · Lantheus Holdings, Inc.It makes and supplies radioactive drugs central to targeted radiopharmaceutical oncology where peptides guide treatment., Bicycle Therapeutics plcIt builds small looped peptides designed to carry cancer drugs directly to tumors with precision targeting., Perspective Therapeutics, Inc.It pairs a tumor-seeking peptide with radioactive lead-212 to treat neuroendocrine tumors with targeted radiation.10%
- Smaller companies testing peptides in new diseases or with novel approaches offer larger potential returns if trials succeed. · Amylyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.It is testing a peptide that blocks GLP-1 signaling to treat dangerous blood sugar crashes after weight-loss surgery., MBX Biosciences, Inc.It designs prodrug peptides that release slowly in the body so patients can dose weekly rather than daily., Altimmune, Inc.It is testing a peptide that targets both GLP-1 and glucagon pathways specifically for fatty liver disease rather than weight loss.9%
- Cash8%