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Peptides are low-molecular-weight substances involved in numerous physiological processes, such as growth and development of the organism, stress, regulation of the emotional state, sexual behavior, and immune responses. Most peptides act as ligands for proteins, the interaction with which leads to highly selective effects. Such properties, as well as a low toxicity, allow us to consider peptides as potential effective drugs. The preparation of peptide drugs became possible at the beginning of the 20th century after the development of a method of their selective synthesis. Despite the success of the synthesis of the first peptide drugs, many issues associated with an increase in the stability, bioavailability, half-life, and the ability to move through the cell membranes remain unresolved. The review considers the historical path of development of the synthesis and production of peptides, and discusses modern approaches to the creation of peptide drugs and their application in biopharmaceutics, including in the development of original peptide drugs in Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptides are low-molecular-weight substances that participate in numerous important physiological functions, such as human growth and development, stress, regulation of the emotional state, sexual behavior, and immune responses. Their mechanisms of action are based on receptor–ligand interactions, which result in highly selective effects. These properties and low toxicity enable them to be considered potent drugs. Peptide preparations became possible at the beginning of the 20th century after a method was developed for selectively synthesizing peptides; however, after synthesis of the first peptide drugs, several issues related to increasing the stability, bioavailability, half-life, and ability to move across cell membranes remain unresolved. Here, we briefly review the history of peptide production and development in the biochemical industry and outline potential areas of peptide biopharmaceutical applications and modern approaches for creating pharmaceuticals based on synthetic peptides and their analogs. We also focus on original peptide drugs and the approaches used for their development by the Russian Federation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]