Maltose, a disaccharide, is found mainly in grains and cereals. Nutritionally, maltose provides the same number of calories as starches and other sugars. Maltose can be the agent responsible for the primary signals to induce the sensations of hunger and satiation in human beings. It was shown, that parenterally administered maltose could be of clinical value.

Dasiglucagon (Zegalogue®) is an antihypoglycaemic agent being developed by Zealand Pharma for the treatment of hypoglycaemia, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) management and congenital hyperinsulinism. Dasiglucagon is a glucagon receptor agonist, which increases blood glucose concentration by activating hepatic glucagon receptors, thereby stimulating glycogen breakdown and release of glucose from the liver. Hepatic stores of glycogen are necessary for dasiglucagon to produce an antihypoglycemic effect. In March 2021, dasiglucagon received its first approval in the USA for the treatment of severe hypoglycaemia in paediatric and adult patients with diabetes aged 6 years and above. Dasiglucagon, a glucagon analogue, is available as a single-dose autoinjector or prefilled syringe for subcutaneous injection.

Linaclotide (marketed under the trade name Linzess and Constella) is a peptide agonist of the guanylate cyclase 2C (GC-C). Once linaclotide and its active metabolite binds to GC-C, it has local effect on the luminal surface of the intestinal epithelium. Activation of GC-C by linaclotide results in the intra- and extracellular increase of cyclic guanosine monophosphate concentrations (cGMP). This elevation of cGMP levels stimulates the secretion of chloride and bicarbonate into the intestinal lumen via activation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) ion channel. The metabolite of linaclotide MM-419447 (CCEYCCNPACTGC) contributes to the pharmacologic effects of linaclotide. Ultimately, linaclotide helps patients with IBS (especially with constipation) as GI transit is accelerated and the release of intestinal fluid is increased. In animal models, a decrease in visceral pain after administration of linaclotide may be observed. A decrease in the activity of pain-sensing nerves occurs as a result of an increase in extracellular cGMP. It was approved by the FDA in August 2012 for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) in adults.

Bivalirudin is a synthetic 20 amino acid peptide rationally designed based on structural studies of hirudin, a naturally occurring anticoagulant. Bivalirudin is sold under the brand name Angiomax and is indicated for use as an anticoagulant in patients with unstable angina undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). It is intended for use with aspirin and has been studied only in patients receiving concomitant aspirin. Bivalirudin directly inhibits thrombin by binding simultaneously to its active catalytic site and its substrate recognition site.

Cosyntropin (ACTH (1–24)) is a synthetic peptide that is identical to the 24-amino acid segment at the N-terminal of adrenocorticotropic hormone. It is intended for use as a diagnostic agent in the screening of patients presumed to have adrenocortical insufficiency. Cosyntropin may bind to sites located on the adrenergic nerve endings associated with the cardiac tissue, and such binding would interfere with the neuronal reuptake of the catecholamines

TAT-NR2B9C is a synthetic peptide fusion of the nine C-terminal residues of the NR2B subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor and the cell membrane protein transduction domain of the HIV-1 tat protein. It is a postsynaptic density protein-95 (PSD95) inhibitor with neuroprotective properties. It is under development for the treatment of acute stroke and acute cerebral ischemia.