Filling a real knowledge gap, this handbook and ready reference is both modern and forward-looking in its emphasis on the 'bench to bedside' translational approach to drug development.
Clearly structured into three major parts, the book stakes out the boundaries of peptide drug development in the preclinical as well as clinical stages. The first part provides a general background and focuses on the characteristic strengths and weaknesses of peptide drugs. The second section contains five cases studies of peptides from diverse therapeutic fields, and the lessons to be learned from them, while the final part looks at new targets and opportunities, discussing several drug targets and diseases for which peptide drugs are currently being developed.

Miguel Castanho is head of the Biochemistry department of the School of Medicine at the University of Lisbon (Portugal). He also leads the Physical Biochemistry research unit at the Institute of Molecular Medicine. His main field of research is the interaction of peptide drugs with lipids, in particular the role of lipid membranes in the mechanism of action of peptide drugs.
Nuno C. Santos is the leader of the Biomembranes Unit of the Institute of Molecular Medicine. His research is centered on the specific functions of biological membranes lipids and proteins, with a special focus on their relevance for pathologic processes ranging from viral or bacterial infection to cardiovascular diseases.
Together, Miguel Castanho and Nuno C. Santos have been involved in many collaborative drug discovery and development projects with industry partners in Europe, USA, Canada, and China.