Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
10:12
Construction of Cyclic Cell-Penetrating Peptides for Enhanced Penetration of Biological Barriers
Published on: September 19, 2022
Building an oral peptide drug
Rebecca Buller1, Joelle N Pelletier2
1Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 7, 2026
Summary
Engineered enzymes were used to create a drug for high cholesterol. This method allows for large-scale production, making the treatment more accessible.
Area of Science:
- Biocatalysis
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
- Current drug synthesis methods can be complex and costly.
- There is a need for efficient and scalable production of cholesterol-lowering medications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an engineered enzyme for the efficient synthesis of a drug targeting high cholesterol.
- To demonstrate the feasibility of kilogram-scale production using biocatalysis.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme engineering through directed evolution to enhance catalytic activity and stability.
- Biocatalytic process development for drug synthesis.
- Scale-up studies to assess kilogram-level production capacity.
Main Results:
- Successfully engineered an enzyme with improved performance for drug synthesis.
- Achieved kilogram-scale production of the target drug.
- Demonstrated the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the enzymatic approach.
Conclusions:
- Engineered enzymes offer a viable and scalable solution for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Biocatalysis presents a sustainable alternative to traditional chemical synthesis for high-cholesterol drugs.
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