Peptide-Guided 
Theranostics

The goal of the Peptide-Guided Theranostics team is to identify targeting peptides that can guide therapies exclusively to the diseased tissue and thus reduce side effects. These targeting peptides are identified using an in vivo phage display screening technique where peptide libraries are expressed on bacteriophages.

 

The identified peptides are then synthesized and coupled to drugs or imaging agents and used in monovalent form, or coupled to nano-delivery systems (polymeric or lipid nanoparticles) that carry a drug or to contrast agents for diagnostic live imaging. In turn, identifying the binding partner of the peptide often unravels new molecular changes in the vasculature of the disease, thus identifying a new druggable target or biomarker.

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In this way, we have obtained targeting peptides for brain injuries, Alzheimer's Disease, Glioblastoma and Tumor-Associated Macrophages, which have given rise to 4 granted and licensed patents. One of those peptides, is being developed by the company Aivocode and is expected to enter clinical phases in 2026-2027. Peptides are already a large sector of the pharma industry; there are over 80 approved peptide-based drugs and in 2024 the second highest sales from the pharma industry was a peptide, proving this area of research is needed now most than ever.