Drug-like peptides show promise in treating 2 blood diseases

Synthetic peptides called minihepcidins may potentially treat two serious genetic blood diseases in children and adults, new research suggests. Although those diseases, beta-thalassemia and polycythemia vera, have opposite effects on red blood cell production, treating animals with minihepcidin helps to restore normal levels of red blood cells and reduces spleen enlargement. It also controls the accumulation of excess levels of iron in beta-thalassemia that often causes severe toxic effects.