Nuritas Launches AI-Discovered Peptide for Sleep Support

Nuritas, a biotechnology company using artificial intelligence to discover bioactive peptides from plants, has launched a new ingredient aimed at supporting sleep health. Derived from rice protein, PeptiSleep is the latest product from the Dublin-based company and has shown promising results in both subjective and objective sleep studies.

In a clinical trial conducted in Australia, PeptiSleep was associated with significant improvements in all four domains of the Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (LSEQ), including ease of getting to sleep, quality of sleep, behavior following wakefulness, and alertness on waking.

“A one-point improvement is considered clinically significant, and we achieved a 10.2-point gain across all four measures,” said Dr. Andy Franklyn-Miller, chief medical and innovation officer at Nuritas.

The 8-week study used a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design and a daily 250 mg dose in capsule format. Participants also wore Oura rings to track heart rate variability (HRV), a biomarker of relaxation and recovery, which improved by over 350% in the intervention group. Salivary cortisol measurements showed no disruption to morning hormonal balance.

“Unlike melatonin, which often comes with next-day grogginess and a risk of dependency, PeptiSleep works from day one without impacting circadian rhythm or suppressing the body’s natural melatonin production,” said Franklyn-Miller. “It’s also non-sedating and has a short half-life, meaning there’s no residual hangover effect.”

According to a Nuritas survey of 600 U.S. consumers, 74% expressed interest in purchasing a product that improves deep, REM, and overall sleep quality. “Many people report dissatisfaction with melatonin. They don’t feel like themselves with it, but also don’t sleep well without it,” said Franklyn-Miller.

Formulation & Commercialization

PeptiSleep has been successfully formulated into gummies, tablets, and liquid shots, according to the company. Its low 250 mg dose, neutral taste, and rice-based origin make it a versatile option for brand owners looking to innovate in the growing sleep category.

While the peptide works effectively on its own, Nuritas has also explored synergies with ingredients like magnesium and chamomile. “You don’t necessarily need those synergies, since PeptiSleep addresses all four key facets of sleep. But it plays well with others,” Franklyn-Miller noted.

Peptides Beyond Sleep

Nuritas uses its proprietary AI platform, AI Magnifier, and a database of more than 9 million natural peptides to discover novel bioactives. The company focuses on addressing global health needs, including sleep, gut health, cognitive performance, inflammation, muscle, and metabolic health. Its ingredient discovery and development pipeline is designed to deliver two new functional peptides per year.

In addition to PeptiSleep, Nuritas has developed PeptiStrong, a peptide ingredient derived from fava beans shown to enhance muscle strength, energy, and recovery. In multiple human clinical trials, PeptiStrong improved muscle strength by 20% and recovery metrics by 130% in as little as three days, according to the company.

Unlike traditional protein supplementation, which relies on amino acid content, PeptiStrong targets intracellular signaling pathways to enhance protein synthesis and ATP energy production. It has shown synergistic effects when combined with leucine, creatine, and HMB, enabling brands to reduce overall dosing without sacrificing efficacy.

Franklyn-Miller said the company’s research model has achieved an 80% success rate, translating from peptide discovery to clinical efficacy, with the last five ingredients showing 100% efficacy in human trials.

Addressing Skin Health with PeptiYouth

Nuritas has also introduced PeptiYouth, which the company called a “next-generation” peptide ingredient developed to address five visible signs of skin aging: wrinkle depth, fine lines, skin smoothness, pore size, and dark spots. Powered by the company’s AI Magnifier discovery engine, PeptiYouth works via precise cell-signaling pathways.

According to the company, PeptiYouth demonstrated efficacy in two double-blind human clinical trials, with results showing up to a 26% reduction in wrinkle depth and a 22.4% reduction in pore size within 14 days. Additional data indicated a 55% increase in collagen expression, 56% increase in elastin, and a 33% increase in fibrillin expression, measured via ELISA.

The ingredient is water-soluble, vegan, non-GMO, and safe for use in dermatological formulations. Its INCI is listed as s-Pea Oligopeptide-1SP.

PeptiYouth can be used synergistically with common skin care actives such as retinol, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, and glycolic acid, and has also been shown to support compatibility with makeup pigments and SPF filters, according to the company.

With growing demand for cleaner, more effective skin health ingredients, PeptiYouth gives formulators a new tool to enhance product performance while meeting consumer expectations for natural, science-backed innovation.

Future Focus and Wearable Integration

Looking ahead, Nuritas plans to introduce new ingredients targeting metabolic health, glycemic control, and inflammation, among others. Integration with wearable technology is central to its strategy. “We want consumers to not only feel the effects, but to see them via quantifiable metrics like HRV, readiness, and sleep stages,” said Franklyn-Miller. “Wearables are moving from observation to intervention. And we’re providing a personalized solution for that next step.”

All Nuritas peptides are plant-derived and Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS). The company also prioritizes sustainability and scalability when selecting natural source materials. “We don’t modify the peptides; this is precision nutrition in its most natural and effective form,” Franklyn-Miller added.

As consumers demand more science-backed, side-effect-free solutions to manage sleep and recovery, PeptiSleep may offer brands a novel path forward — one powered by AI but rooted in nature.