New Processes for the Preparation of Peptide Hormones

Abstract

Peptide hormones and their analogs are currently under study by a large number of life scientists. Many of these hormones will eventually become commercial therapeutic agents. One of the major impediments to the development and commercialization of these new drugs is the cost of their synthesis for laboratory studies. The automated solid phase method introduced by Professor R.B. Merrifield of Rockefeller University essentially removed the labor component from the cost of a peptide synthesis. The capital investment as well as the reagents for the synthesis remain expensive. This paper addresses some new technology that significantly reduces the cost of capital equipment.