Drug Discovery World (May 2026): The Art and Science of Cyclic Peptide Drug Design — Experimental Discovery Meets AI Computation
A May 2026 Drug Discovery World feature consolidates the case for cyclic peptides as a distinct therapeutic modality: larger and more selective than small molecules, more permeable and cheaper to manufacture than antibodies, and uniquely suited for protein-protein-interaction targets that have resisted traditional drug discovery. The piece traces the recent algorithmic stack — RFDiffusion adaptations for cyclic backbones, AfCycDesign, ProteinMPNN-derived sequence design — alongside the synthesis chemistry advances (one-pot ligations, photo-redox macrocyclizations) that turn computational hits into tractable scaffolds. Over 40 cyclic peptide drugs are now FDA-approved across endocrine, oncology, and antimicrobial uses, and 6+ peptide-drug conjugates sit in Phase 3, per the late-April PDC market analysis.