Peptides

Most peptides are made by solid phase peptide synthesis, while some short peptides are produced by fermentation or enzymatic processes. Demand for GLP-1 receptor agonists has made peptide manufacturing one of the fastest growing parts of the pharmaceutical industry, with large investments in capacity.

Ask for purity by HPLC, identity by mass spectrometry, net peptide content, counter ion (for example acetate or trifluoroacetate salt), water, residual solvents and, for pharmaceutical grades, the regulatory dossier status and impurity profile. Research peptides are often supplied lyophilised in milligram amounts and should be stored frozen. Peptide APIs that are still under patent protection cannot be sold for commercial use in protected markets.