"The body has its own pharmacy," and Korean scientists have unlocked a new compartment. On May 28, 2025, a team at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) announced the discovery of a peptide metabolite, Ac-Tβ1-17, derived from a natural protein, thymosin β4.
This peptide exhibits both antiviral and tissue regenerative properties. The discovery addresses the growing demand for effective peptide therapeutics derived from natural substances, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of peptide-based drugs.
Ac-Tβ1-17 inhibits the activity of Mpro, a key protease of the COVID-19 virus, by over 85%, demonstrating strong antiviral effects. Furthermore, in experiments with human vascular cells, it activated essential recovery processes such as cell growth, wound healing, blood vessel formation, and removal of reactive oxygen species.
To harness the peptide's biological functions, the team created a supporting scaffold. This scaffold, using the peptide, effectively promotes tissue recovery by supporting cell adhesion, growth, and blood vessel formation. "We will continue research using natural bioactive materials to pursue practical applications in antivirals, functional biomaterials, and beyond," said Dr. Dae-Geun Song.
This research confirms that a single peptide can perform both antiviral and regenerative functions. It is expected to overcome limitations of existing protein-based therapies and offers a foundation for developing new drugs and medical biomaterials. The team plans to further explore Ac-Tβ1-17's practical application in customized therapeutics and regenerative biomaterials.