PHAGE DISPLAY A POWERFUL TECHNIQUE FOR PEPTIDE GENERATION 

Phage display is a technique that uses bacteriophages to present and select proteins or peptides with specific binding properties. It has been employed in the identification of the compstatin family of complement C3 inhibitors.

This technique can be used with purified targets to generate binders or in vivo phage display where the target is unknown, enabling the search based on the phenotype. This flexibility makes phage display a valuable tool for identifying potential complement inhibitors and exploring their therapeutic potential.

While phage display allows for the generation of binders, not all of them may exhibit functional properties, explains Dr. Lamers. Despite this challenge, having a starting structure through phage display is still valuable. Optimizing compounds identified through phage display for affinity, stability, and pharmacokinetic behavior requires several crucial aspects to be considered. After the initial phage display selection, the binders typically have micromolar affinity. To improve their affinity, systematic optimization techniques like Alanine-scanning can be employed, where each amino acid is systematically replaced with Alanine to determine its impact on affinity. This allows for the identification and optimization of key amino acids to reach nanomolar affinity. “In terms of therapeutics, it is essential to achieve high affinity, particularly when targeting components of the complement system. This is because many components of the complement system are present in high concentrations, necessitating a higher affinity in order to effectively saturate the target and produce the desired therapeutic effect,” comments Dr. Lamers.

Beyond their therapeutic potential, these compounds also contribute to a deeper understanding of the complex biology of the complement system. By studying the interactions between ligands and complement components, researchers gain valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms and pathways. “This knowledge enhances our understanding of the complement system’s role in various biological processes and diseases.” It is worth noting that while phage display is useful for various applications, whether it can be translated into a therapeutic is a separate consideration.

CYCLIC PEPTIDES: A STABLE AND BUILDING BLOCKS-LIKE PHARMACEUTICAL TOOL 

Stability in plasma is an important aspect of optimizing therapeutic compounds. In this context, cyclic peptides have an advantage over regular linear peptides due to their stable conformation. Further stability enhancement can be achieved by identifying specific cleavage sites using a mass spectrometry (MS) assay method and replacing vulnerable amino acids with modified D-amino acids or N-methylated amino acids mentions Dr. Lamers. This modification increases the stability of cyclic peptides, often without affecting their affinity. “What we are looking for is not to change the binding site but to make the backbone more stable.”

With the increment of non-canonical complement roles and local production of complement components, the ability of compounds to penetrate membranes or barriers is gaining relevance. Cyclic peptides can exhibit conformational changes near membranes, which can aid in shielding hydrophilic regions and facilitating membrane penetration. This property makes cyclic peptides suitable for the development of membrane-penetrating therapeutics.

One notable area of interest lies in neurodegenerative diseases. There is a growing need to explore the complement system’s involvement in neurodegenerative diseases and identify potential therapeutic targets.  Due to the unique characteristics of the brain, such as the blood-brain barrier, targeting the complement system in this context requires careful consideration and innovative strategies. “One key aspect of cyclic peptides is the versatility of allowing the combination of active peptides with membrane-penetrating peptide parts, like building block pieces, and that is something my group is starting to work on and is really exciting," comments Dr. Lamers.

ADVANCING SELECTIVE INHIBITORS OF NOVEL ROLES OF COMPLEMENT CASCADE

“It is crucial to find a way to selectively inhibit novel and relevant targets without inhibiting the entire complement system long-term, which could lead to problems with infections,”

 The potential impact of cyclic peptides in complement-targeted therapeutics is immense. “As our understanding of the complement system continues to deepen, we can anticipate the development of innovative therapies for a wide range of diseases, I am optimistic about the development of the field.” With continued research and innovation, cyclic peptides hold promise for really advancing the field of complement-targeted therapeutics.