Bicyclic peptide antagonists derived from genetically encoded combinatorial libraries.

Ligands based on bicyclic peptides can combine favourable properties of antibodies (good binding affinity and target specificity) and small molecule ligands (stability, access to chemical synthesis, diffusion properties) and might be suitable molecular structures for the development of therapeutics. By using a combinatorial methodology based on phage display and a chemical cyclisation reaction, we are generating bicyclic peptide antagonists of protein targets with therapeutic applications in mind.