Written by Johnathon Anderson, Ph.D., a research scientist, and Associate Professor at the University of California Davis School of Medicine
Published by: Peptide Systems
Key Takeaways: J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference 2026
The Shift to Engineering: The industry focus has moved from discovering new sequences to engineering better architectures. 2026 is the year of the "Modified Peptide."
Stability is Programmable: Data from MBX Biosciences confirms that glycan-conjugation can extend peptide half-life from minutes to weeks, making native sequences obsolete as long-term controls.
Oral Delivery Validation: Protagonist Therapeutics has proven that Disulfide-Rich Peptides (DRPs) can survive gastric acidity, signaling a renewed research interest in "caged" peptide structures.
The "Nuclear" Pivot: A massive supply deal for Lead-212 confirms that Bicyclic Peptides (constrained structures) are the future of Targeted Alpha Therapy, driving demand for chelator-ready precursors.
Meta Description:
As the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference kicks off in San Francisco, we analyze the industry shift toward Oral Delivery, Radioligands, and "Precision" Stability. Here is the scientific briefing for Principal Investigators.
I. Introduction: The Pivot Point
Next week (January 12–15), the biotech world will descend on the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco for the 44th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. If the patterns of the last two years hold true, the headlines will be dominated by multi-billion dollar mergers and stock tickers.
But for those of us at the bench, the real story isn't the stock price, it’s the molecule. For the last 24 months, the research peptide market was suffocated by a single narrative: the GLP-1 receptor agonists. While Semaglutide and Tirzepatide defined the "Discovery Phase" of this cycle, 2026 marks a decisive shift into the "Engineering Phase."
The companies presenting this year, from MBX Biosciences to Bicycle Therapeutics, are no longer just looking for new sequences. They are demonstrating how to make existing sequences survive stomach acid, resist enzymatic degradation for weeks, and carry radioactive payloads with sniper-like precision.
As a California-based research institute, Peptide Systems is closely monitoring these presentations. Our goal isn't to sell you a stock tip; it’s to identify the new chemical modalities that will define your laboratory’s research for the next 12 months.
Here are the three JPM 2026 peptide trends technologies graduating from "Concept" to "Clinical Reality" at JPM 2026.
II. Trend 1: "Precision Stability" & The End of Degradation
If there is one complaint that unites every Lab Manager, it is the fragility of native peptides. Standard sequences often have half-lives measured in minutes, requiring constant re-dosing and meticulous cold-chain handling.
At JPM 2026, two companies are presenting data that could make this fragility a thing of the past.
MBX Biosciences: The "Programmable" Half-Life
Presenting: January 13, 2026 (3:45 PM PT) Key Asset: Canvuparatide (MBX 2109)
MBX Biosciences is showcasing their Precision Endocrine Peptide (PEP)™ platform. While traditional modifications (like standard PEGylation) are often blunt instruments, MBX uses precision glycan-conjugation to "program" the release rate of the molecule.
Their lead candidate, Canvuparatide, has demonstrated the ability to function as a continuous-release prodrug for weeks after a single administration.
The Takeaway for Your Lab: The era of "Native Sequence Only" is ending. If your current assays are failing due to rapid degradation, stop blaming your storage conditions and start looking at your sequence. We are seeing a massive shift toward Modified Analogues, specifically those with fatty acid side-chains or glycan modifications, that mimic this PEP architecture.
ImmunoForge: The Biopolymer Shield
Event: Strategic Partnering Meetings (Jan 12–15) Key Asset: Froniglutide (PF1801)
While MBX uses chemical conjugation, ImmunoForge is taking a bio-inspired approach. They are in San Francisco seeking partners for their Elastin-Like Polypeptide (ELP) technology.
Instead of attaching a synthetic polymer, they fuse the active peptide to a biopolymer derived from human elastin. This creates a "shield" that protects the peptide from enzymatic attack without triggering the immune responses sometimes seen with PEG.
The Research Application: If you are studying peptide therapeutics in vivo, you must control for immunogenicity. The industry's move toward ELP and Fc-fusion proteins confirms that Biopolymer Conjugates are the new gold standard for long-duration studies.
III. Trend 2: The "Oral" Holy Grail (No Needles)
For decades, the "Oral Peptide" was considered a myth. The harsh pH of the stomach and the impermeability of the intestinal wall meant that 99% of peptides had to be injected.
JPM 2026 is the year that myth officially dies. Two companies are presenting diametrically opposing solutions to the same problem: getting off the needle.
Protagonist Therapeutics: The "Armor-Plated" Peptide
Key Asset: JNJ-2113 (Oral IL-23 Antagonist)
While Novo Nordisk relies on permeation enhancers (SNAC) to force peptides through the gut wall, Protagonist Therapeutics is taking a structural approach. They are presenting data on Disulfide-Rich Peptides (DRPs).
Think of DRPs as "caged" molecules. By engineering multiple disulfide bridges into the sequence, Protagonist creates a rigid, scaffold-like structure that is virtually impervious to gastric enzymes. Their success with JNJ-2113 proves that if you constrain the peptide enough, it can survive the stomach.
Crinetics Pharmaceuticals: The "Cheater" (Small Molecules)
Presenting: January 13, 2026 Key Asset: Paltusotine (Oral SSRA)
Crinetics is taking the opposite bet. Instead of protecting the peptide, they are designing non-peptide small molecules that mimic peptide binding. Their lead drug, Paltusotine, targets the somatostatin receptor just like Octreotide, but it is a classic small molecule.
As more small-molecule agonists enter the market, researchers need a stable "Gold Standard" to test them against. The rise of oral delivery is driving a surge in demand for Cyclized & Disulfide-Bridged Peptides (like Defensins and Hepcidin) to serve as the benchmark for stability.
Recommendation: If you are studying GI stability, ensure your control peptides are Cyclized, not linear. Linear sequences are no longer a relevant baseline for 2026 research.
IV. Trend 3: "Warhead" Peptides (Radiopharmaceuticals)
The third trend is perhaps the most aggressive. For years, peptides were treated as "messengers." In 2026, they are being weaponized.
The field is Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT), and the leader is Bicycle Therapeutics.
Bicycle Therapeutics: The "Nuclear" Deal
News Context: Just weeks ago (Dec 16, 2025), Bicycle signed a massive 15-year supply agreement with the UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority for Lead-212 (Pb-212). Key Asset: Bicycle Radioconjugates (BRCs)
Why is everyone at JPM talking about Lead-212?
The Physics: Lead-212 emits "Alpha particles." Unlike traditional radiation (Beta) that penetrates deep into tissue, Alpha particles are heavy and stop quickly. They obliterate the tumor cell without killing the healthy tissue next to it.
The Problem: You need a delivery vehicle that gets in and out fast. Antibodies are too slow (they circulate for days, irradiating your bone marrow).
The Solution: Bicyclic Peptides. These "Figure-8" constrained peptides penetrate the tumor in minutes and clear the kidneys in hours.
The "Lab Manager" Takeaway:
This validates the shift toward Chelator-Ready Peptides. Research labs are no longer just buying "naked" sequences. They are buying peptides pre-conjugated with DOTA, NOTA, or Deferoxamine cages, ready to be loaded with isotopes (or non-radioactive metal mimics like Gadolinium) for imaging studies.
Action Item: If you are in oncology research, stop using linear peptides for targeting. You need Constrained Peptides (Cyclized) with open chelators to replicate these "Warhead" kinetics.
V. Conclusion: From Wall Street to Your Bench
The billions of dollars flowing through the Westin St. Francis this week confirm one undeniable fact: The era of "Simple Peptides" is over.
The next generation of therapeutics will not be defined by the sequence alone, but by the architecture. Whether it is the "Programmable Half-Life" of MBX, the "Caged Stability" of Protagonist, or the "Nuclear Payload" of Bicycle, the industry is moving from Discovery to Engineering.
For the academic or private researcher, this presents a challenge. If you are still using linear, native, unstable peptides for your assays, you are researching yesterday's science. To produce data that is relevant in 2026, your controls must match the sophistication of the clinical pipeline.
You don't need a Series B funding round to access these technologies.
At Peptide Systems, we have curated our catalog to mirror these clinical advancements. We provide the reference materials you need to bring your lab into the modern era of peptide engineering.
Stay compliant. Stay current. Stay published.
Disclaimer: All products listed on Peptide Systems are strictly for in-vitro laboratory research and development. They are not intended for human consumption or clinical use.
