Researchers have uncovered a powerful enzyme that could reshape the future of peptide-based medicines, offering a new way to make drugs more stable, longer-lasting, and potentially more effective.

Scientists at the University of Utah have identified an enzyme called PapB that can “tie” therapeutic peptides into compact ring structures—a process known as macrocyclization. This structural change could significantly enhance drugs like semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, which are widely used to treat diabetes and obesity.

Figure 1. Ozempic-Like Drugs.

Turning Peptides into Stronger Medicines

Peptides are highly effective in the body but notoriously difficult to modify. By transforming them into ring-shaped structures, researchers can improve their stability, extend how long they remain active, and enhance their ability to interact with biological targets.

PapB acts like a microscopic tool, enabling scientists to reshape these molecules with precision. Unlike traditional chemical methods—which can be complex and expensive—this enzyme provides a simpler and more controlled way to modify peptides, even at later stages of drug development.

A Flexible and Powerful Enzyme

Described in a study published in ACS Bio & Med Chem Au, PapB is part of a class of “radical SAM” enzymes and functions by creating a strong sulfur–carbon (thioether) bond that closes peptide chains into ring structures. Notably, it achieves this without needing the additional “leader” sequences that most similar enzymes require. Even when researchers introduced nonstandard amino acids—commonly used in modern incretin drugs—the enzyme still worked efficiently. This adaptability makes PapB a promising tool for designing next-generation therapeutics.

Boosting Drug Performance

One of the biggest challenges for peptide drugs is their short lifespan in the body. Natural enzymes called proteases quickly break them down, limiting their effectiveness. By converting peptides into ring structures, PapB helps shield them from degradation, potentially extending their half-life and improving therapeutic performance.

Toward Next-Generation Treatments

The findings suggest that PapB could serve as a versatile platform for enhancing existing drugs. Rather than replacing current treatments, this approach adds a final refinement step—allowing scientists to fine-tune how long a drug lasts, how stable it is, and how it behaves in the body.

With support from the National Institutes of Health, the research team is now working to translate this discovery into real-world applications through their startup, Sethera Therapeutics.

A Promising Path Forward

By combining precision chemistry with biological tools, this breakthrough highlights a new direction in drug design. If successful, it could lead to more durable, effective peptide therapies—enhancing treatments that millions of people already rely on while opening the door to entirely new possibilities in medicine.

References:

1. https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-discover-enzyme-that-could-supercharge-ozempic-like-weight-loss-drugs/

Cite this article:

Keerthana S (2026), New Research Points to Enzyme That Could Improve Ozempic-Like Drugs, AnaTechMaz, pp.1253