Biocatalysis Breakthrough: Merck's Enlicitide Paves Way for Oral Therapies

Biocatalysis has emerged as a game-changer in pharmaceutical manufacturing after decades of development. The technology uses natural or engineered biological systems to accelerate and direct chemical transformations, allowing for the creation of medicines that conventional chemistry cannot produce.

Merck's David Thaisrivongs, PhD, executive director and head of Biocatalysis, shares the story behind the approval of enlicitide, the first oral macrocyclic peptide PCSK9 inhibitor. This breakthrough medicine has the potential to make a significant splash in treating cardiovascular risk.

Thaisrivongs explains how Merck evolved naturally occurring enzymes into precision manufacturing tools capable of orchestrating multi-enzyme reaction cascades. This allows for the creation of complex molecules at commercial scale, making it possible to treat diseases previously thought only treatable with injectable biologics orally.

The approval of enlicitide is not just about a new cholesterol drug but also marks the arrival of an entirely new therapeutic modality. Thaisrivongs believes this milestone demonstrates that there's a middle ground between traditional small molecules and biologics, which can provide meaningful benefits for human health.