Official: Iran Aims to Improve Pharmaceutical Industry by Investment on Production of Oligopeptide Drugs
“Oligopeptide drugs, which are a subset of peptides, are known as one of the most promising research fields in the world's pharmaceutical industry. These drugs, having powerful therapeutic properties, are used in the treatment of a wide range of diseases, including various cancers and antimicrobial treatments,” Mote’allehi said.
“Many oligopeptide drugs have received the necessary licenses from the US Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency in the past 10 years, and manufacturing of such products can strengthen the country in the field of new technologies,” he added.
Noting that the oligopeptide drugs seem to be one of the promising areas of the pharmaceutical and even cosmetics industry, Mote’allehi said, “To succeed, we need access to safe and standard infrastructure, an updated and efficient quality management system, and skilled and trained human resources.”
An oligopeptide is a peptide consisting of two to twenty amino acids, including dipeptides, tripeptides, tetrapeptides, and other polypeptides. Some of the major classes of naturally occurring oligopeptides include aeruginosins, cyanopeptolins, microcystins, microviridins, microginins, anabaenopeptins, and cyclamides. Microcystins are best studied because of their potential toxicity impact in drinking water.
A review of some oligopeptides found that the largest class are the cyanopeptolins (40.1%), followed by microcystins (13.4%).
Oligopeptide classes are produced by nonribosomal peptides synthases (NRPS), except cyclamides and microviridins are synthesized through ribosomic pathways.
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