Beyond GLP-1: Why Peptides Are Back at the Center of Drug Discovery with Charlie Johannes and Tomi Sawyer

Peptides are having a moment. But beneath the market excitement and the GLP-1 headlines, something more interesting is going on. A field that for years seemed technically promising but perpetually constrained is becoming wide open.To see into that open terrain, we’re joined by Charlie Johannes, founder of EPOC Scientific and president of the Peptide Drug Hunting Consortium, along with Tomi Sawyer, a founder of the Consortium and founder of Maestro Therapeutics. We asked them for a high-level look at a field being reshaped by advances in chemistry, screening, delivery, and by a growing sense that peptides may be uniquely positioned to open up biology that other modalities have only partly been able to reach.And yet both are clear: the field is not mature. AI is accelerating biology, which still depends on existing knowledge. Prediction remains limited, especially with non-natural chemistry. And the core challenge may now be human—how to turn an overwhelming amount of data into real innovation. As Johannes puts it, “Turning knowledge into innovation is the real challenge.”Chapters:1:31 Why peptides are suddenly hot again6:10 Between small molecules and biologics10:14 Oral delivery, screening15:45 AI, automation, and the limits of prediction32:17 The Consortium and where the field is headingThis is not a finished revolution—it’s a launch. The field, Sawyer says, is “in the Artemis II rocket right now heading towards the moon.” The peptide story is now much bigger than obesity drugs. Where does the field stand today? What has changed, and what remains difficult? This episode is the first in a new partnership between Mendelspod and Peptide and Protein News, a media platform covering peptide and protein drug development. You can see what they’re up to at peptideandprotein.com. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe