Pramlintide is an analog of human amylin. Amylin is co-secreted with insulin from pancreatic beta cells and acts centrally to slow gastric emptying, suppress postprandial glucagon secretion, and decrease food intake. These actions complement those of insulin to regulate blood glucose concentrations. Amylin is relatively deficient in patients with type 2 diabetes, depending on the severity of beta-cell secretory failure, and is essentially absent in patients with type 1 diabetes. Through mechanisms similar to those of amylin, pramlintide improves overall glycemic control, reduces postprandial glucose levels, and reduces bodyweight in patients with diabetes using mealtime insulin. SYMLIN® (pramlintide acetate) is indicated for patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who use mealtime insulin and have failed to achieve desired glycemic control despite optimal insulin therapy.

Ziconotide (PRIALT; SNX-111) is a neuroactive peptide, which was approved by FDA in 2004 for the management of severe chronic pain in adult patients for whom intrathecal therapy is warranted, and who are intolerant of or refractory to other treatment, such as systemic analgesics, adjunctive therapies, or intrathecal morphine. Ziconotide acts as a selective N-type voltage-gated calcium channel blocker, which leads to a blockade of excitatory neurotransmitter release from the primary afferent nerve terminals.

Triptorelin is a synthetic decapeptide agonist analog of luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (LHRH). It works by decreasing the production of certain hormones, which reduces testosterone levels in the body. Animal studies comparing triptorelin to native GnRH found that triptorelin had 13 fold higher releasing activity for luteinizing hormone, and 21-fold higher releasing activity for follicle-stimulating hormone. Triptorelin is indicated for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

Teriparatide was manufactured under the brand name FORTEO. FORTEO contains recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-34), [rhPTH(1-34)], which has an identical sequence to the 34 N-terminal amino acids (the biologically active region) of the 84-amino acid human parathyroid hormone, that regulates calcium and phosphate in the body. FORTEO is indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal women with severe osteoporosis who are at high risk of fracture or who have failed or are intolerant to previous osteoporosis therapy. In addition, Forteo is used for the treatment of osteoporosis associated with sustained systemic glucocorticoid therapy in men and women who are at increased risk for fracture. The biological actions of teriparatide is mediated through binding to specific high-affinity cell-surface receptors. Teriparatide is not expected to accumulate in bone or other tissues.

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

Delcasertib is a peptide inhibitor of protein kinase C-delta, developed by KAI Pharmaceuticals. Delcasertib disrupts binding of delta-PKC to its receptor for activated C kinase, thereby preventing localization of delta-PKC to the mitochondria during periods of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. In preclinical studies, when given as a single intracoronary dose, delcasertib reduced infarct size, enhanced early recovery of regional left ventricular contractility, and improved microvascular patency and function in animal models of acute myocardial infarction. The compound diminished myocardial necrosis and improved reperfusion in a pilot study during the primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In a larger clinical trial, however, intravenous infusion of delcasertib during PCI for acute STEMI in a population of patients treated according to the contemporary standard of care did not reduce biomarkers of myocardial injury.

Forigerimod (also known as IPP-201101) a phosphopeptide is being investigated for the treatment of Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic. This drug is completed phase III clinical trials and is ready for licensing.

Anaritide (Auriculin-Registered Trademark) is a 25-amino-acid synthetic form of atrial natriuretic peptide. Scios Nova was developing anaritide acetate for use in the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of acute renal failure, heart failure and hypertension. Scios suspended development of AURICULIN® anaritide based upon the results of an interim analysis of data from a 250-patient Phase III study in oliguric acute renal failure. The study was suspended due to the low probability that a positive outcome could be obtained with respect to its primary clinical endpoint, dialysis-free survival.

N-(2-Bromophenyl)-9-Methyl-9-Azabicyclo[3.3.1]Nonan-3-Amine (also known as AT-1001) is a high-affinity and highly selective ligand at α3β4 nicotinic cholinergic receptors (nAChRs) that was reported to decrease nicotine self-administration in rats. AT-1001 has a single-digit nanomolar binding affinity for the α3β4 nAChR and over 100-fold selectivity over the α4β2 nAChR and α7 nAChR in competition binding experiments. In electrophysiological experiments, AT-1001 had partial agonist activity at the α3β4 nAChR, evoking 35% of maximum ACh response, and at the same doses, produced desensitization of the ACh response, effectively acting as a functional antagonist at the α3β4 nAChR. Interestingly, AT-1001 also selectively decreased self-administration of cigarette smoke extract (CSE), an aqueous extract of cigarette smoke components, without altering natural food intake, when administered systemically to rats trained to self-administer CSE