FUJIFILM Corporation has developed a new screening methodology aimed at identifying cyclic peptides with high affinity toward membrane proteins, including complex multi-pass transmembrane proteins that have traditionally been difficult to target in drug discovery research. The company announced that the technology will be presented during the TIDES USA exhibition taking place from May 11 to 14, 2026, at the Hynes Convention Center. The development strengthens Fujifilm’s peptide discovery services, which have utilized proprietary mRNA display technology since 2023. The company said the newly developed approach broadens the potential of cyclic peptide screening for membrane protein targets that are beyond the reach of conventional methods.
Cyclic peptides containing unnatural amino acids are gaining attention in pharmaceutical research because of properties such as tissue permeability, synthetic flexibility, and high target affinity. Fujifilm noted that previous screening methods depended on the isolation and purification of target proteins, a process that can disrupt the native three-dimensional structures of proteins such as multi-pass transmembrane proteins. The company also stated that using live cells for peptide discovery created additional limitations because mRNA tags in peptide libraries were susceptible to degradation in cell culture media under earlier techniques.
To address these issues, Fujifilm designed a peptide library incorporating mRNA tags resistant to degradation in cell culture media. This enabled direct screening of peptides against multi-pass transmembrane proteins expressed on living cell surfaces. Using the method, the company identified peptides that selectively bind to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), which are regarded as important pharmaceutical targets among multi-pass transmembrane proteins. Fujifilm said the technology is expected to expand opportunities for peptide discovery involving challenging membrane proteins while supporting a broader range of customer requirements in drug discovery research. The company added that it continues to expand global services related to peptide therapeutics, including peptide discovery, high-throughput screening, structural optimization, peptide chemical synthesis, and target protein expression and purification. Fujifilm said the advancement of cyclic peptide screening aligns with its broader healthcare research and development initiatives focused on peptide therapeutics.
