156 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 comprehensive review by D.J. Drucker in Nature Medicine outlines GLP-1 medicines expanding beyond diabetes and obesity into cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, substance use, metabolic liver disease, arthritis, type 1 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease. New multi-agonist molecules with optimized pharmacokinetics are producing greater weight loss.
A study in Scientific Reports found that early intervention with tirzepatide or semaglutide significantly reduced atherosclerotic plaque formation in ApoE-knockout mice, suggesting GLP-1 drugs may have preventive cardiovascular benefits beyond their metabolic effects when initiated before disease progression.
A comprehensive NeurologyLive review details emerging evidence for GLP-1 receptor agonists across neurological diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Despite setbacks in the Phase 3 EVOKE Alzheimer's trial, ongoing trials like LIGHT-MCI and OxSENSE continue to explore neurobiological mechanisms beyond metabolic effects.
Stanford researchers found approximately 10% of people may have resistance to GLP-1 drugs, limiting effectiveness for glucose regulation and weight loss. The study examined individual variation in how GLP-1 drugs slow gastric emptying.
Researchers analyzed 410,198 Reddit posts mentioning semaglutide or tirzepatide, finding 43.5% of 67,008 self-reported users described at least one side effect extending beyond clinical trial data.
A new review highlights GLP-1 RAs achieving a 55% reduction in apnea-hypopnea index and 14.9% mean weight loss in non-diabetic populations, with pleiotropic effects across cardiovascular, renal, and skeletal systems.
Researchers from UNSW examine the booming trend of injectable peptides marketed for skin repair and anti-aging. They highlight the lack of human clinical evidence and note three people were fined for peptide injections that hospitalized two women at an anti-aging festival.
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.