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Unnatural Products

A private biotechnology company developing synthetic macrocyclic peptide therapeutics designed to target historically “undruggable” proteins. Unnatural Products focuses on bridging the gap between small molecules and biologics through orally available, cell-permeable macrocycles.

Company Overview

Unnatural Products is a biotechnology company building a new class of therapeutics based on synthetic macrocyclic peptides. Its approach is designed to combine the binding precision of biologics with the pharmacological properties of small molecules, including oral bioavailability and intracellular access.

The company’s core strategy is to unlock difficult biological targets—particularly protein–protein interactions—that are not accessible to conventional drug modalities. Its platform integrates computational design, high-throughput synthesis and experimental validation to generate drug-like macrocycles with optimized potency, selectivity and permeability.

Unnatural Products operates as a discovery-stage biotech with a pipeline focused on high-value targets across multiple disease areas, often in collaboration with larger pharmaceutical partners.

Headquarters and Global Presence

Unnatural Products is headquartered in Santa Cruz, California, in the United States.

The company operates with a partnership-driven model, collaborating with pharmaceutical companies and research institutions to advance its discovery programs globally.

Founding and History

The company was founded in 2016 by Cameron Pye and Joshua Schwochert, based on academic research originating from the Lokey Lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Its founding work focused on understanding how natural macrocycles achieve cell permeability and translating those principles into synthetic drug design.

Unnatural Products has raised venture funding from investors including Merck Global Health Innovation Fund and Artis Ventures, supporting development of its macrocycle platform.

The company has also established major pharmaceutical collaborations, including multi-billion-dollar potential partnerships aimed at advancing macrocyclic peptide therapeutics.

Therapy Areas and Focus

Unnatural Products develops therapies across multiple disease areas where conventional drug approaches have limitations.

Key areas of focus include:

oncology
autoimmune and inflammatory diseases
cardiometabolic diseases
targets involving intracellular protein–protein interactions

The company prioritizes diseases driven by complex biology that cannot be effectively addressed with traditional small molecules or antibodies.

Technology Platforms and Modalities

The company’s platform centers on synthetic macrocyclic peptides engineered for drug-like properties.

Key elements include:

macrocyclic peptide design mimicking natural protein structures
AI-guided and computational chemistry-driven molecule design
iterative design–synthesis–testing optimization cycles
engineering for cell permeability and oral bioavailability

These technologies enable the development of molecules capable of targeting intracellular proteins and protein–protein interactions while maintaining favorable pharmacokinetics.

Key Pipeline and Programs

Macrocyclic peptide discovery programs

Modality: synthetic macrocyclic peptide therapeutics
Indication focus: oncology, immunology and other high-value targets
Status: preclinical discovery and early development
Mechanism: selective binding to intracellular or extracellular protein targets, including protein–protein interactions

Partnered discovery programs

Modality: macrocyclic peptide therapeutics developed with pharmaceutical partners
Scope: multiple undisclosed targets
Status: discovery and preclinical development
Structure: collaboration agreements with milestone and royalty structures

The company’s pipeline is largely partner-integrated, with discovery efforts feeding into external clinical development pathways.

Key Personnel

Cameron Pye, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Joshua Schwochert, Co-Founder

The leadership team includes scientists specializing in macrocycle chemistry, computational drug design and protein interaction biology.

Strategic Partnerships

Partnerships are central to the company’s operating model.

Key collaborations include:

argenx, in a multi-program partnership targeting undruggable proteins using macrocyclic peptides
Novartis, in a licensing agreement to develop macrocyclic peptide therapeutics
Merck, an early investor and collaborator in macrocycle drug discovery

These partnerships provide funding, validation and downstream development capabilities.

FAQ Section

The central strategic issue is demonstrating that synthetic macrocyclic peptides can consistently function as a scalable therapeutic modality. Success depends on translating platform-generated molecules into clinically viable drugs with sufficient permeability, stability and efficacy.

Macrocyclic peptides combine features of biologics and small molecules. They can bind complex protein surfaces like antibodies while potentially achieving oral delivery and intracellular access.

Many disease-relevant targets, particularly protein–protein interactions, are not accessible with traditional drug classes. The company’s platform is designed to make these targets druggable.

The platform integrates computational design, parallel synthesis and rapid experimental validation to iteratively optimize macrocyclic molecules for drug-like properties, including permeability and selectivity.

The company operates primarily as a discovery engine. Pharmaceutical partners provide resources for clinical development and commercialization while the company focuses on generating high-quality drug candidates.

Unnatural Products is a discovery-stage biotechnology company with programs primarily in preclinical development and partnered research.

Key issues include: