Peptide Nasal Sprays for CNS Diseases

For people suffering from a chronic illness, or anyone who wants to feel their best, peptides can be an incredible health boost. These short strings of amino acids create proteins, which are found in every cell of the body, and help with healing and cellular function. They are naturally anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and even antibacterial. Peptides can be delivered in a number of ways, including injections and nasal sprays. Unlike pills, which must pass through the digestive system to be absorbed, sprays go directly into the bloodstream, bypassing this process and delivering the peptides right where they’re needed.

Intranasal delivery of drugs has gained interest in recent years, primarily due to its ability to increase drug bioavailability and decrease side effects. Several clinical studies have shown the efficacy of therapeutic peptides for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases. However, their development has been hampered by a lack of reliable and safe delivery methods. In this article, we review the current state of therapeutic peptides for CNS diseases in nasal liquid formulation and dry powder inhalers (DPIs).

One potential solution is to develop new peptide delivery systems. For instance, a DPI nasal spray that delivers calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists has been developed and tested in migraine patients. Its use has resulted in improved pain relief compared to placebo. The FDA has recently approved ZAVZPRET (zavegepant), the first and only intranasal CGRP receptor antagonist, for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults.

The peptide BPC-157 is being studied for its ability to treat neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and epilepsy. It has been shown to be effective in both animal models of severe seizures and Alzheimer’s, a study published in JCI Insight notes. It works by inhibiting a protein called neurabin, which helps ensure that the protective mechanism — adenosine, a chemical made in the brain by neuron-supporting glial cells when hyperexcitability occurs — doesn’t overdo its job and cause a seizure.

Researchers are also developing peptides that can be administered nasally for a wide range of purposes. A nasal spray that delivers the peptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been shown to improve symptoms of the inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis, and is currently in Phase III clinical trials for gastrointestinal diseases. It has been demonstrated that VIP reduces inflammation and bacterial colonization, as well as improves bowel motility and permeability. The peptide may also be useful in treating fibromyalgia and rhinitis. It can relieve swelling and inflammation in the nasal lining, as well as inhibit the activity of pro-inflammatory genes in the brain. It is also being investigated in the treatment of PTSD.peptide nasal sprays