Cancer is the second-largest peptide drug indication after obesity-and-metabolic, and it covers more chemistry diversity. Peptide-drug conjugates, peptide cancer vaccines, peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), and tumor-targeting macrocyclic peptides all land here.
The most discussed 2026 thread outside trial readouts: a 21-expert panel proposed a 5,000-participant, decade-long randomized trial to test whether semaglutide and tirzepatide prevent obesity-related cancers. The proposal sits alongside Mordor Intelligence's $49.68B-to-$70.2B (2026–2031) peptide therapeutics market projection, much of it driven by oncology.
Stories here cover trial readouts, AACR and ASCO presentations, and the cancer-prevention angle on GLP-1s. See #oncology, #peptide-vaccine, #peptide-drug-conjugate, and #breast-cancer.
Eli Lilly's acquisition of Kelonia Therapeutics — announced April 20 with $3.25 billion upfront and up to $7 billion total including milestones — illustrates the company's broader pivot beyond GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Kelonia develops in vivo CAR-T technology that reprograms patients' T-cells inside the body, eliminating the ex vivo cell-engineering step required by current CAR-T therapies. The deal joins Lilly's recent Centessa Pharmaceuticals (sleep) and Orna Therapeutics (cell therapy) acquisitions as part of a multi-vertical pipeline diversification. Transaction expected to close H2 2026.
A comprehensive review in Discover Oncology highlights antimicrobial peptides' emerging dual role as anticancer and antiviral therapeutics. AMPs selectively target cancer cell membranes through electrostatic interactions while also demonstrating antiviral activity, with their immunomodulatory properties and reduced resistance development offering advantages over conventional chemotherapy.
A comprehensive review in Journal of Nanobiotechnology positions peptide-drug conjugates (PDCs) as the next evolution beyond antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for targeted cancer therapy. Six PDCs are now in Phase III clinical trials with approximately 96 in development, offering advantages in tissue penetration, lower immunotoxicity, and more accessible manufacturing than ADCs.