Future directions for therapeutic peptide synthesis and manufacture

In the wake of a significant increase in global demand for synthetic peptides, with increasingly complex structures, renewed attention into the efficiency and scalability of peptide manufacture is required. Key areas for improvement include reducing raw material use, environmental impact, and increasing global production capacity. The currently dominant platform for peptide drug manufacture, solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), offers robustness, streamlined development and a mature raw material supply chain, but manufacturing capacity is limited, and toxic substances are used extensively. Research in academia and industry to reduce the environmental impact of SPPS has made incremental progress but lack transformative solutions. In this perspective, we provide an overview of the current peptide manufacturing landscape and reflect on the most promising technological advancements of SPPS and alternative methods. Furthermore, we highlight bold efforts to re-think peptide synthesis to ultimately benefit both patients and the planet.