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Biosynthesis of therapeutic GLP-1 peptides

Yale Life Science Pitchfest + BioCT Holiday Party 2025
12/04/2025

Biosynthesis of therapeutic GLP-1 peptides

The global GLP-1 therapeutics market is projected to exceed $150 billion by 2030, driven by unprecedented demand for diabetes and obesity treatments. Current GLP-1 receptor agonists rely on complex chemical synthesis, which limits scalability, increases cost, and requires toxic reagents and extensive purification. Biosynthetic production has not been possible due to the need for multiple non-natural amino acid modifications. Our proprietary synthetic biology platform overcomes these barriers, enabling efficient, scalable biosynthesis of GLP-1 peptides with precise chemical modifications. This next-generation recoded organism technology establishes the first viable biosynthetic route for approved GLP-1 molecules and opens opportunities for novel, patentable variants. Using Blavatnik funds, we propose to advance this platform by producing GLP-1 analogs, performing biofermentor scale-up, and conducting PK and immunogenicity in vivo studies to support clinical development and partnering.