There are several drugs that are based on cyclic peptides, which are a class of peptides that form a closed loop structure through the formation of a covalent bond between the amino and carboxyl groups of the peptide chain.
Some examples of drugs that are based on cyclic peptides include:
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Vancomycin: an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, particularly those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
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Cyclosporine: an immunosuppressive drug used to prevent organ rejection in transplant patients and to treat autoimmune disorders.
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Octreotide: a somatostatin analog used to treat acromegaly, carcinoid syndrome, and other hormone-related disorders.
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Bacitracin: an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, particularly those caused by gram-positive bacteria.
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Daptomycin: an antibiotic used to treat infections caused by gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA.
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Amphotericin B: an antifungal drug used to treat systemic fungal infections.
These drugs are based on cyclic peptides because the cyclic structure provides increased stability and bioavailability, as well as improved specificity for their target molecules.