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Ahead of the AHA meeting, an original report reviewed enlicitide analyses across PREVENT cardiovascular risk groups and an open-label extension. LDL cholesterol reductions were broadly consistent across risk categories and persisted through Week 104. The extension selected participants who had tolerated and adhered to treatment and lacked a control group, limiting generalization of its long-term findings.
Aurinia reported LUPKYNIS net product sales of $232.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2026, up 18%, including $79.4 million in the third quarter, up 12%. Total company revenue also includes licensing, collaboration, and royalty income. These are commercialization results for an approved oral cyclic peptide, rather than a new indication approval or clinical endpoint readout.
A new review connects peptide structure, formulation, screening, and pharmacokinetic testing in an evidence-based framework for oral drug discovery. It distinguishes architecture-led libraries, oral optimization of existing hits, and hybrid approaches. The scope includes cyclic and noncyclic peptides; the proposed framework organizes development evidence rather than demonstrating a new therapy or clinical benefit.
An npj Drug Discovery review examines how generative models represent constrained peptide chemistry, topology, conformational ensembles, and developability. It separates information explicitly generated by a model from properties inferred later, and predictions from prospective experiments. The authors identify gaps in chemical coverage and uncertainty calibration, including limitations relevant to orally absorbed cyclic peptides.
Processa announced a research collaboration and exclusive option agreement with Generian Pharmaceuticals to advance an oral macrocyclic peptide FcRn antagonist program. The companies aim to develop oral alternatives to injectable treatments for IgG-mediated autoimmune diseases. The announcement disclosed neither human data for the peptide program nor financial terms; a separate BTK program received Phase 2 IND clearance.
A Kidney Week report described pooled CORALreef trial findings for oral PCSK9 inhibitor enlicitide across kidney function groups. Participants with estimated glomerular filtration rates below 60 had a 65.9% placebo-adjusted LDL cholesterol reduction at Week 24. This subgroup analysis addresses lipid lowering; it does not establish fewer cardiovascular events, which require dedicated outcomes evidence.
Gilead agreed to acquire worldwide rights to PepStar’s oral IL-23R inhibitor program, including HCXT-2001, for $1.275 billion cash payable at closing. HCXT-2001 is a Phase 1 oral macrocyclic peptide with an extended half-life. Closing was expected in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to conditions; the candidate’s safety and efficacy remain unestablished.
Ascletis reported that ASC36o, an oral amylin receptor agonist tablet, had an approximately seven-day half-life and 6%–8% oral bioavailability in nonhuman primates. The company said a US Phase 1 study was underway, with human PK results expected by year-end 2026. The quantitative findings are preclinical and do not yet establish once-weekly oral dosing in humans.
Researchers developed HighPlay3 to balance cyclic peptide target binding and membrane permeability through iterative structural assessment and prediction. Experimental screening produced micromolar binders against MDM2 and GABARAP. Among tested active GABARAP candidates, GAB-D4 showed the highest Caco-2 apparent permeability with no apparent net efflux. These are early laboratory results, not demonstrated human oral bioavailability.
The 252-participant ANTHEM-UC Phase 2b publication found all three icotrokinra doses superior to placebo for week-12 clinical response. Remission was 30% versus 11% at 400 mg. The 200 mg remission comparison did not meet significance, stopping formal downstream testing under the prespecified sequence. These results do not establish approval for ulcerative colitis.
Viking announced the SUNRISE Phase 3 program for oral VK2735, a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist. Two placebo-controlled, 68-week studies each target 560 adults, with and without type 2 diabetes. This is an adjacent oral peptide delivery program rather than a confirmed cyclic peptide platform, and the announcement provides a trial start rather than Phase 3 efficacy results.
Entera reported a post hoc analysis of its Phase 2 EB613 study and outlined a planned Phase 3 trial. Women with lower baseline bone density showed larger gains, but the relevant subgroups were small. EB613 is an oral PTH(1-34) delivery program, an adjacent noncyclic peptide approach; these exploratory findings do not establish fracture reduction.
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