The global peptide therapeutics sector is witnessing a surge of high-impact activity, marked by significant international partnerships and groundbreaking research, signaling robust growth and innovation in the field.

In a major deal underscoring the value of peptide technology, Chinese biotech company ZhongSheng QuanTai has entered a global licensing agreement with Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis for a novel, undisclosed peptide-based radioactive ligand therapy (RLT) asset. The agreement, announced in January 2026, grants Novartis exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize the pre-clinical stage asset. ZhongSheng QuanTai will receive a substantial $50 million upfront payment and is eligible for future development, regulatory, and sales milestone payments, plus tiered royalties. This collaboration highlights the growing recognition of China's innovative peptide drug discovery platforms on the world stage.

Concurrently, cutting-edge research is revolutionizing how peptides are designed. A study published in January 2026 introduced CleaveNet, an end-to-end artificial intelligence pipeline engineered to design efficient and selective peptide substrates for proteases. This AI tool successfully generated substrates for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes critical in health and disease, revealing both known and entirely new cleavage motifs. This advancement promises to drastically accelerate the development of peptide-based diagnostics and therapeutics.

These developments occur within a rapidly expanding market. Analysts project the global peptide therapeutics market to grow from $146.34 billion in 2026 to approximately $334.95 billion by 2034. This growth is fueled by peptides' high specificity and safety profile, with significant research efforts targeting cancer, metabolic, and cardiovascular diseases. The industry is also adapting to demand, with peptide synthesis increasingly outsourced to specialized CDMOs (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organizations) to manage complex production.

From a multi-million dollar strategic alliance to AI-powered molecular design, the peptide field is demonstrating dynamic progress, offering promising avenues for next-generation precision medicines.

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