It resulted in the discovery of several regulated cell death (RCD) pathways in red blood cells
This approach inspired other programmes: N-hexanoic-Tyr-D-Arg : enkephalin-derived, protease-resistant, studied for pain N-methyl-Aib inclusions : N-methyl substitutions increase membrane permeability at the cost of partial loss of receptor affinity Beta-peptides and D-amino acids : substitution of natural chiral residues by their D enantiomers, making the peptide invisible to endogenous proteases while (sometimes) preserving function Stapled peptides : hydrocarbon cyclisation, popularised by Verdine (Harvard), stabilises alpha helices and improves cellular penetration These strategies progressively shift the peptide / small molecule frontier
BPC-157 will never receive FDA approval
Each peptide in the stack operates through a distinct but mechanistically complementary biological pathway BPC-157 driving angiogenesis, fibroblast activation, and extracellular matrix stabilisation, while TB-500 drives cytoskeletal reorganisation, cellular migration, and stem/progenitor cell mobilisation
doi: 10.1038/s41586-019-1170-y 79 AnftMPaniskakiKBlazquez-NavarroADoevelaarASeibertFSHolzerBet al