Oral delivery of proteins and peptides: Challenges, status quo and future perspectives

Therapeutic proteins and peptides (PPs) are increasingly favored over small molecular drugs due to their selectivity and efficacy.

• PPs are associated with fewer side effects compared to traditional small molecule drugs.
• The poor stability and limited absorption of PPs through the gastrointestinal tract necessitate parenteral administration.
• Research efforts focus on developing technologies like enteric coatings and permeation enhancers to enable oral delivery of PPs.
• Some of these new technologies have advanced to clinical trials and are available on the market.
• The review discusses the physiological barriers to oral delivery of PPs and potential strategies to overcome them.

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