Page - (000256) - in Biomedical Chemistry: Current Trends and Developments

greater number of peptides in early-stage compared with pivotal studies. The top two are metabolic disease and oncology for the Phase I and II peptides, whereas oncology and infectious disease are the top two TAs for peptides in Phase III (Kaspar & Reichert, 2013). Figure 3.1.14: Therapeutic areas for peptides in clinical studies (on 15 February 2013; CNS-central nervous system; CV-cardiovascular; adapted from (Kaspar & Reichert, 2013). The commercial value of peptide therapeutics that have been marketed for years is well-established, but could substantially increase as recently approved products and those on the horizon gain market share. Peptides will probably be used intensively in the near future for various applications in the treatment of CNS diseases, notably in the design of peptide regulators of protein activity, if they are able across the BBB by absorptive-mediated transport (Hervé, 2008; Pardridge, 2003). CMT- or RMT-based peptides (de Boer & Gaillard, 2007a; 2007b) developed for CNS drug targeting will also certainly contribute to the development of peptide-based prodrugs with facilitated access to the CNS. Also, in current trials conducted to treat cancer, gene disorders, and autoimmune diseases, CPP-based therapies are being used. Gene- targeted therapies have a huge potential to fight rare genomic diseases and will be associated to the usage of CPP to deliver therapeutic agents into cells (Figueiredo, 2014). 3.1.4 Conclusions