Amylin’s research organization challenges the boundaries and processes of traditional drug research by following paths designed by nature. The company creates innovative approaches to the discovery and development of novel therapies for diseases such as diabetes and obesity by leveraging our deep understanding of the chemistry and integrated biology of peptide hormones.

The Amylin Discovery Engine

Amylin’s drug discovery engine supports a sustainable pipeline by leveraging the advantages inherent in peptide hormones, such as low toxicology risks and their track record as commercially successful drugs. Amylin has compressed the discovery timeline through the early use of animal models and efficient initiation of clinical studies.

Amylin has developed a proprietary library of novel synthetic polypeptides to identify and characterize novel activities of both known peptides as well as new peptides not yet on the map. These have been synthesized to create a rich source of compounds for ongoing research into functionality, utility, and potential value in the treatment of human disease. It is believed within the company that the depth of this peptide library is unmatched in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries and creates substantial value as a proprietary asset.

The Amylin Formula

Rather than the widely accepted target-first approach, where libraries of uncharacterized compounds are screened against a known, understood, or validated drug target, Amylin identifies therapeutic activity and characterizes the peptide drug lead independent of determining a target. Because the industry has learned through failure that target specificity is not a guarantee of success, Amylin is able to apply knowledge of function and therapeutic action before chemical and biological optimization. Comprehensive early understanding of lead peptide biology and its safety profile provides greater opportunity for success in clinical development.