Macrocyclic peptides: a new "Goldilocks" drug class?

(OP) The first oral macrocyclic peptide was approved by the FDA two weeks ago. It's a cholesterol-lowering drug, the first oral PCSK9 inhibitor -- current PCSK9 inhibitors are injected.

I found the underlying chemistry and scientific process really interesting.

I tried to answer two main questions in this specific article: 1. What was the actual process from 2013-2026 that led to enlicitide? 2. If we were restarting this work in 2026, would AI have helped? If so, at what specific stages?

Happy to answer questions if people have 'em.