203 stories across all digests
Research coverage runs from preclinical mechanism papers to AI-driven peptide discovery. Most of what shows up here lives in Nature, Cell, Science, JAMA, and the abstracts from AACR, ESCMID, AAN, and ESCMID Global.
A few threads keep recurring. Macrocyclic and bicyclic peptides keep getting better at hitting "undruggable" targets — KRAS, beta-catenin, intracellular protein–protein interactions. Antimicrobial peptides have moved from theory to clinical candidates against carbapenem-resistant organisms and biofilms. Cancer peptide vaccines (ELI-002, autogene cevumeran, EVX-01) are producing real survival data. AI design tools — protein language models, transformer architectures, de novo platforms — are starting to generate hits that humans wouldn't.
If you want the lab side without the press releases, this is the right surface. The stories below name the lab, the journal, and the result.
A large GWAS study published in Nature identified a missense variant in GLP1R predicting an additional 0.76 kg of weight loss per allele copy. GIPR variation was linked to nausea/vomiting side effects specific to tirzepatide users.
Research in JAMA Network Open shows semaglutide, tirzepatide, and bariatric surgery all produce substantial fat mass reduction but also cause reductions in lean mass over 24 months, highlighting the body composition tradeoff in GLP-1 treatment.
Comprehensive review examining GLP-1 receptor agonists for neurological conditions. A recent NEJM trial showed GLP-1 treatment resulted in less motor disability progression at 12 months.
Physician-journalist Dhruv Khullar traces the peptide movement from CrossFit communities to mainstream wellness, documenting contamination (lead in BPC-157, endotoxins in TB-500), lack of human trials, and RFK Jr.'s attacks on FDA restrictions.
TikTok users on retatrutide report emotional blunting. Neuroscientist Paul Kenny of Mount Sinai says researchers are investigating whether GLP-1 drugs act as general reward dampeners affecting the brain's mesolimbic system.
Psychiatric Times provides educational review of the incretin system covering the shift toward oral nonpeptide small-molecule GLP-1 RAs and triple agonists expected within 1-2 years.
Comprehensive look at peptide therapies from approved GLP-1s to unregulated substances like BPC-157 and TB-500. Most evidence comes from animal studies, with benefits "largely unvalidated in human trials."
The FLOW trial showed semaglutide reduced major kidney disease events by ~24%, while the SELECT trial found a 20% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events among 17,600+ adults.
Published the day after Foundayo's FDA approval, a new indirect comparison found oral semaglutide may produce greater weight loss than orforglipron with fewer GI discontinuations.
Analysis of the FAERS database (2012–2025) examining exenatide, liraglutide, dulaglutide, semaglutide, and tirzepatide reveals distinct risk profiles, suggesting not all GLP-1 agents carry the same safety concerns.
Several peptide-loaded hydrogels are already in Phase 3 clinical trials for chronic and acute wound care, signaling an accelerating transition from bench to pharmacy shelf.
Researchers engineered PLGA nanocomplexes functionalized with iRGD tumor-penetrating peptides to deliver paclitaxel combined with medicinal fungus extract, targeting the PDCD4 gene to overcome drug resistance.
A new study identified a potential link between semaglutide use and a rare dermatological pain syndrome. Researchers also referenced Phase 2 retatrutide data as part of broader incretin safety analysis.
New data shows the first oral CGRP antagonist ubrogepant demonstrates better efficacy when administered during mild pain rather than waiting for moderate-to-severe migraine pain.
A study of ~175,000 Type 1 diabetes patients found GLP-1 receptor agonists reduced five-year cardiovascular event risk by 15% and end-stage kidney disease by 19%, with no increase in severe hypoglycemia. Published in Nature Medicine.
A research review characterizes TB-500 and BPC-157 as distinct informational modulators, with TB-500 linked to thymosin beta-4 biology and BPC-157 acting as a localized signaling stabilizer.
Eric Topol of Scripps Research called peptide data "woefully minuscule," warning about impurities, random dosing, and dangerous stacking of unproven compounds from gray-market sources.
Findings presented at The Liver Meeting show retatrutide cleared fatty liver disease in more than 85% of patients with obesity, dramatically expanding its therapeutic profile beyond weight loss.