Oral Peptides Gain Momentum as Merck Bets Big with $493M Deal

In the autoimmune treatment market, the oral peptide market is beginning to emerge.

Global pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co. has recently made another significant move in the field of novel drug delivery technology, announcingStrategic Cooperation with Austrian Innovative Pharmaceutical Company Cyprumed Reached up to 493 Million US Dollars。

According to the terms of the agreement, Merck & Co. obtainedNon-exclusive global rights to the Cyprumed oral peptide delivery platform, the number of targets is unknown. The agreement also grants Merck & Co. an exclusive option to license Cyprumed's technology for a single target. Cyprumed is eligible to receive up to $493 million in upfront, development, regulatory, and net sales milestones related to the approval of any product under the collaboration. If Merck exercises its exclusive licensing rights, Cyprumed may receive additional payments. Merck will be responsible for the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of any products using Cyprumed’s delivery technology under the agreement.

| Multiple Companies Focus on Oral Peptides

The oral peptide industry is currently in its golden age of development, with several companies such as Merck, AbbVie, and Johnson & Johnson already making advances.

As early as January 2024,Merck & Co. Signs $220 Million Collaboration Agreement with Unnatural ProductsThrough this collaboration, Merck began utilizing Unnatural Products' technology to develop macrocyclic peptide candidates, primarily targeting the challenging field of oncology. Merck has previously likened macrocyclic peptides to "Goldilocks," as their molecular size falls between small molecules and biologics, offering many unique advantages.

December 2024,AbbVie Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Nimble TherapeuticsThrough this acquisition, AbbVie will obtain Nimble's core assets, including its leading project — a preclinical oral peptide IL-23 inhibitor for the treatment of psoriasis, as well as a pipeline of innovative oral peptide candidates targeting various autoimmune diseases. The acquisition of Nimble Therapeutics not only enriches AbbVie’s product pipeline but also strengthens its R&D capabilities in the field of oral peptide therapies.

In the field of oral psoriasis treatment, Johnson & Johnson's JNJ-2113 has demonstrated Best in class potential. In November 2024, Johnson & Johnson and Protagonist jointly announced positive topline results from the pivotal Phase 3 ICONIC study of Icotrokinra (JNJ-2113, formerly known as PN-235). This Phase 3 study met the co-primary endpoints of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 90 and Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) 0/1 response at week 16, with response rates continuing to improve by week 24. According to their press release, JNJ-2113 is the first targeted oral peptide that selectively blocks the IL-23 receptor, intended for adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO).

| Oral Peptides Are Gaining Momentum

Frost & Sullivan's forecast shows that the global peptide drug market size has grown from USD 60.7 billion in 2018 to USD 89.5 billion in 2023, and is expected to reach USD 189 billion by 2028.

As a core category of drugs for treating metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, peptide drugs have long been limited by the challenge of intestinal absorption, with over 90% requiring administration through injection. However, the need for long-term repeated injections not only affects patients' quality of life but also increases the complexity of manufacturing and storage, ultimately leading to higher healthcare costs. Therefore, despiteThe research and development of oral peptide drugs has always been a hot topic in the pharmaceutical field., but due to the numerous challenges faced in the absorption of oral peptide drugs, there are not many successfully commercialized products.

With the in-depth research on the oral absorption mechanism of peptides, innovative technologies developed by scientists are gradually breaking down the barriers to peptide absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. Some oral peptide drugs have successfully reached the market, such as the well-knownOral SemaglutideDosage FormHas been approved for marketing.

Industry perspectives generally believe that the market for treating autoimmune diseases is experiencing rapid growth. According to a research report by MARKET MONITOR GLOBAL, INC (MMG),The global market size for oral peptide therapeutic drugs in 2023 was approximately USD 1,886.4 million., with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.8% over the next six years, reaching USD 7,843.2 million by 2030.

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