Topic description
Peptides are one of the fastest-growing classes of new drugs. With nearly peptide APIs on the market currently, over peptides in clinical development and between to other ones in preclinical phase, the sales of peptide-based drugs are expected to surpass $68 billion by .
Having molecular weights comprised between 1, and 5, Da, peptide APIs can be synthesised, with Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) the preferred method. However, it has been recognised that a greener process for peptide APIs is a critical unmet need (American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute Pharmaceutical Roundtable ). For example, SPPS is generally relying on N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), solvents classified as substances of very high concern (SVHC) under REACh EU regulations since, restrictions applying on the use of the former solvent since December. SPPS also commonly uses trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), a chemical listed among the Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), chemical contaminants of emerging concern, with environmental concentrations of TFA being the highest among PFAS.
The present project aims to develop a novel, sustainable, approach to SPPS circumventing the use of reagents (including TFA and coupling reagents) and solvents which do not currently satisfy green chemistry requisites. The objectives of the project are to synthesise peptides from suitably protected and activated amino acids, using water as the main solvent for the entire sequence assembly.
Starting date
-10-01
Funding category
Public/private mixed funding
Funding further details