Therapeutic applications of thymosin peptides: a patent landscape 2018-present.

Thymalfasin (Zadaxin) is the only FDA-approved thymosine-based drug used to treat chronic hepatitis B and C and as a chemotherapy inducer. This outcome demonstrates how thymosins can be exploited as therapeutics, especially in immunological and anti-cancer therapies. However, the development of modified thymosins could expand their therapeutic interest and application in different diseases. In fact, by chemical modifications, it is possible to increase proteolytic stability in the biological environment, enhance cell permeability, and stabilize the secondary structure of the peptide. Finally, the development of shorter sequences could reduce the cost and production time of these thymosin-based drugs.