Peptide synthesis is the process of building peptides in a laboratory setting. It involves linking individual amino acids to form longer chains.Read more
Note: This article focuses on mechanism-level discussion rather than product-level claims.Demand for peptide-based drugs is rising at a pace few in the pharmaceutical sector anticipated. What was once a specialised segment is now driving some of the industry’s fastest growth, fuelled by breakthroughs in metabolic therapies and a rapidly expanding clinical pipeline. For PolyPeptide, that shift is translating into scale, relevance, and sustained momentum across its global operations. CEO Juan-José Gonzalez frames the opportunity at hand within the context of the wider market.
“The most important place to start is with the peptide market itself,” he explains. “You have small molecules on one end, biologics on the other, and peptides sit in between. This positioning has become increasingly valuable.”
Advances in Research and Development
In recent years, advances in research and development have improved peptide stability and safety, opening the door to broader use cases. Peptides’ role as drug carriers continues to grow, but the most significant impact is being felt in metabolics, particularly weight management.
“The metabolic market is developing at an unprecedented rate,” Juan-José says. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen a healthcare market of this size emerge so quickly.”
GLP-1 therapies sit at the centre of the metabolic expansion. These treatments are reshaping how conditions such as obesity are addressed, while also delivering benefits across cardiovascular health, diabetes, liver disease, and sleep apnoea.
PolyPeptide operates directly within this thriving ecosystem. As a contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) focused on peptides, the company has established itself in a highly attractive segment.
“We work with 14 of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies, and around 40 percent of global metabolic clinical development activity runs through our infrastructure,” Juan-José states. “In short, we are deeply involved in developing the next generation of metabolic drugs that are shaping this new healthcare market.”
PolyPeptide’s distinguished position is built on more than exposure to a high growth segment. The company’s greatest strength comes from technical depth and an ability to apply that expertise across both development and manufacturing.
“What really differentiates us is our deep scientific expertise,” Juan-José declares. “Our strategy is to be the most innovative peptide CDMO in the market.”
The strategy Juan-José references is supported by proprietary technologies developed in-house. These are applied across the full lifecycle of peptide production, helping customers manage complexity while accelerating timelines.
“Deep expertise paired with proprietary technology is what attracts pharmaceutical and biotech customers to work with us,” Juan-José comments. “The scale of our portfolio underlines this point: we currently have 47 metabolic projects across 25 customers. There is no other CDMO working so extensively in metabolics.”
Defining the Next Wave of Treatment
PolyPeptide’s active projects span late-stage clinical development through to commercial manufacturing. The organisation is already contributing to some of the largest peptide therapies on the market, while supporting candidates that could define the next wave of treatment.
The impact of modern metabolics is significant. For example, a decade ago, obesity had limited treatment options. Today, effective therapies are delivering measurable outcomes and changing clinical expectations.
“Reducing weight unlocks a wide range of positive health outcomes,” Juan-José remarks. “Our contributions towards obesity therapies have increased confidence in peptide-based approaches more broadly. As a result, our research activity is expanding into areas like oncology, cardiovascular disease, and rare conditions.”
Even as PolyPeptide diversifies, metabolics remains the company’s central growth engine, driving investment across the value chain, from early-stage research through to large-scale manufacturing.
PolyPeptide’s financial performance reflects this dynamic. Years of investment in pipeline development are now feeding through into commercial activity.
“We are working with multiple customers as they transition from Phase III clinical development into commercial production,” Juan-José reveals. “The company reported 16% growth at constant exchange rates in 2025. For 2026, we are aiming for growth of between 20 and 25 percent.”
A Positive Impact on Society
In the longer-term, PolyPeptide aims to double its 2023 revenues by 2028, and believes current momentum supports that trajectory. Of course, operating in healthcare brings with it a vast array of considerations, but ultimately, commercial growth is closely linked to patient access, pricing, and long-term impact.
“We’re very excited about what lies ahead,” Juan-José adds. “Healthcare offers a rare opportunity to build a business, grow professionally, and at the same time, have a positive impact on society.”
In this vein, environmental responsibility is a major part of PolyPeptide’s future. As production expands, so does the need to effectively manage the company’s environmental impact.
“As we grow rapidly, it’s essential that we do so responsibly,” Juan-José asserts. “Among other initiatives, we are investing heavily in green chemistry technologies to reduce our environmental impact.”
Despite its good reputation and high standing, PolyPeptide is aware that it cannot succeed alone. As a result, the company’s supply chain strategy is evolving.
Rapid market growth and geopolitical pressures are changing how companies think about sourcing and resilience. PolyPeptide is responding by building deeper partnerships across multiple regions. The aim is to create a supply network that is aligned with the company’s long-term strategy rather than focused purely on capacity.
“Our suppliers aren’t just investing in capacity or technology,” says Juan-José. “They’re evolving alongside PolyPeptide and actively supporting our long-term strategy.
“Shifts such as this reflect a broader trend across the CDMO sector, where collaboration is becoming more integrated and strategic. I would say the role of suppliers is absolutely critical to the future success of our business.”
In 2026, the fundamentals supporting the peptide market remain strong. There are more than 1,600 peptide drugs currently in development globally, pointing to sustained demand over the next decade. PolyPeptide’s focus now is to build further on its existing strengths.
“Our objective is to double down on our scientific expertise and proprietary technologies,” Juan-José affirms. “We want to continue innovating and to be a partner of choice for our customers.
“Geographic expansion will support that approach. With established operations in the US, Europe and Asia, we are focused on building out our presence across all major regions.”
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Circular economy and aqueous synthesis are attractive concepts for sustainable chemistry. Here it is reported that the two can be combined in the universal method for peptide chemistry, fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl(Fmoc)/t-Bu solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). […] Pawlas, J.; Rasmussen, J. H., ChemSusChem 2021, 14, 3231–3236, DOI:10.1002/cssc.202101028. Read more
All compounds discussed here are referenced from preclinical or clinical research literature; consult qualified professionals before any application.