This article understands the behind the CXO track players are deploying peptides. Peptide drugs have a wide range of applications and bright development prospects.

Major companies in the peptide drug industry: Kailai Ying (002821), Nuotai Biological (688076), Hanyu Pharmaceutical (300199), Shuangcheng Pharmaceutical (002693), Shengnuo Biological (688117), Zhongpi Biochemical, Angbo Pharmaceuticals, etc.

The core data of this article: application field, competitive landscape, market size

CXO track players have deployed peptides

In the 2021 semi-annual report, while consolidating the main track of small molecule CDMO, Kailaiying actively expanded its CDMO capabilities into new business areas: peptides, oligonucleotides and other chemical macromolecule businesses. In addition, WuXi AppTec also said that it will continue to invest heavily to further strengthen its service capabilities for new molecular types such as PROTAC, oligonucleotide drugs, peptide drugs, antibody-conjugated drugs (ADC), double antibodies, cell and gene therapy.

Definition: peptide drugs combine the advantages of small molecule chemical drugs and protein drugs

Polypeptides are biologically active substances related to various cell functions in organisms, and are indispensable participants in life activities. At present, more than 7000 natural polypeptides have been discovered, involving hormones, nerves, cell growth and reproduction and other fields. Extensively participate in and regulate the functions of various systems, organs and cells in the human body.

Various endocrine hormones in humans, such as thyroxine, insulin, pituitary hormones, neuropeptides, enkephalins, growth factors, luteinizing hormones, etc., are all polypeptide substances. From the perspective of application fields, peptides have been widely used in many fields such as medicine, food, health products, cosmetics, biological materials, and biological pesticides. Among them, the applications of peptides in the field of medicine mainly include peptide drugs, peptide vaccines, and peptide diagnostics. Reagents, etc.

Polypeptide drugs refer to polypeptides with specific therapeutic effects that are extracted from animals and plants through chemical synthesis, genetic recombination, and are specific applications of polypeptides in the field of medicine. Peptide drugs are mainly derived from endogenous peptides or other natural peptides, with clear structure and clear mechanism of action. Compared with general small molecule drugs, they have higher activity and stronger selectivity, and have obvious advantages in the treatment of complex diseases.

And because the polypeptide itself is a compound composed of amino acids, its metabolites are amino acids, which generally have no side effects or small side effects on the human body. Compared with protein drugs, peptide drugs have relatively good stability, high purity, low production cost, and immunogenicity. Advantages such as low or no immunogenicity, and the quality control level can be close to that of traditional small molecule drugs. In the drug development stage, chemical modification can also be used to improve the affinity, solubility, and pharmacokinetic properties of drug candidates (Stability), toxicity, etc., to support rapid screening of drug candidates.

In short, peptide drugs have a good combination of the advantages of small molecule drugs and protein drugs. They have the advantages of good stability, strong specificity, low impurities, good curative effects, and small toxic and side effects. They can widely act on the endocrine system, immune system, and immune system. Digestive system, cardiovascular system, blood system, musculoskeletal system, etc.

Application areas: mainly distributed in the treatment of 7 major diseases

Polypeptide drugs are mainly used for the treatment of chronic diseases. At present, the international peptide drugs are mainly distributed in the treatment of 7 major diseases, including rare diseases, tumors, diabetes, gastrointestinal tract, orthopedics, immunity, cardiovascular diseases, etc., among which rare diseases, Tumors and diabetes are the “troika” driving the peptide drug market. The other four fields also have heavy varieties on the market. Representative varieties include liraglutide, dulaglutide, somaglutide, leuprolide, Teriparatide, Octreotide, Exenatide, etc.

Market size: slow market development

Currently, the main peptide drug developers are the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, including NovoNordisk and EliLilly. According to Frost & Sullivan, the two leading peptide drug developers adopt very different development and production strategies. NovoNordisk manufactures most of its products on its own and often avoids establishing partnerships with CMO/CDMO. On the contrary, EliLily uses third-party service providers for the production and finishing of certain active ingredients.

Pharmaceutical and biotech companies that do not have technical expertise and internal production facilities to meet regulatory requirements also rely on peptide CDMO to produce peptide APIs. In addition, outsourcing the development and production of peptides to external service providers can provide certain advantages for peptide pharmaceutical companies seeking to achieve efficient production in peptide drug research and development projects. External peptide drug production and R&D service providers have professional talents and knowledge, advanced equipment and methods, customized development and production capabilities, and have the advantages of quality, cost and risk control systems. Therefore, due to the increasing demand for peptide CDMO services, it is expected that the trend of outsourcing the development and production of peptide drugs to external service providers will continue in the next few years.

According to Frost & Sullivan’s data, China’s peptide CDMO market fluctuated from 100 million U.S. dollars in 2016 to 100 million U.S. dollars in 2020, far below the global growth rate.

Prospect forecast: China’s market will reach 1 billion U.S. dollars in 2030, a growth rate higher than that of the global market

Driven by the continuous growth of the global peptide drug market, as well as the increase in overall drug R&D expenditures, technological advancements, increased penetration rates, and the emergence of emerging biotechnology companies, the global peptide CDMO service market has achieved sustained growth in the past few years, and is expected in the next few years.

The same trend will be maintained throughout the year. More and more pharmaceutical companies outsource process development and peptide production to CDMO in order to focus on their core competencies in drug discovery, clinical development and commercialization.

In particular, several large pharmaceutical companies (such as EliLilly, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, etc.) prefer to use CDMO for the production and finishing of peptide APIs, because CDMO has production capacity and technology that are not available internally, so that pharmaceutical companies can be more cost-effective Way to produce peptide APIs. It is expected that more companies will use CDMO services to prevent or reduce internal technical challenges in peptide production.

According to Frost & Sullivan’s forecast, the global peptide CDMO market will increase from USD 2 billion in 2020 to USD 4.4 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 17.7% from 2020 to 2025, and will further increase to 2030 The annual compound annual growth rate from 2025 to 2030 is 12.1%. In the Chinese market, peptide CDMO will rise from 100 million U.S. dollars in 2020 to 400 million U.S. dollars in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 26.6%; and it will further increase to 1 billion U.S. dollars in 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 21%; Far surpassing the global growth rate.

The above data refers to the “China Pharmaceutical Intermediate Industry Market Research and Investment Forecast Analysis Report” by the Qianzhan Industry Research Institute. At the same time, the Qianzhan Industry Research Institute also provides industrial big data, industrial research, industrial chain consulting, industrial maps, industrial planning, park planning, and industrial Solutions such as investment promotion, IPO fundraising feasibility study, and prospectus writing.