Musings from The Power List: Ali Tavassoli
Ali Tavassoli explains how cyclic peptides and new discovery tools are opening up once-inaccessible biology
By
Ali Tavassoli
September 10, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Musings from The Power List: Ali Tavassoli
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Cyclic Peptides in Drug Discovery Key Mechanisms Intracellular screening of cyclic peptide libraries, macrocyclisation, N-methylation, intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Target Population Patients requiring novel therapeutics for previously difficult-to-target diseases. Care Setting Biopharma industry and drug development.
Key Highlights
Recognition by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Medicine Maker Power List 2025. Expansion of druggable targets beyond traditional boundaries. Challenges in aligning scientific timelines with funding cycles. Emerging evidence supporting oral bioavailability of cyclic peptides. Need for diversified capital in biotech to support long-term drug development. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Management
Monitoring & Follow-up
Risks
Mismatch between scientific timelines and funding cycles. Fragility of companies relying on single targets or markets. Patient & Prescribing Data
Patients with diseases previously considered undruggable.
Cyclic peptides and targeted degraders are emerging as viable therapeutic options.
Clinical Best Practices
Encourage longer-term partnerships between biotech and pharma. Implement pull incentives for areas of market failure. Diversify therapeutic modalities and geographic markets. Related Resources & Content
