Teprotide is nonapeptide which has been isolated from the snake Bothrops jararaca.

Teprotide was synthesized in 1970 by Ondetti et al.[3] and from there its antihypertensive properties were studied more closely.

Teprotide was chosen as a lead because of its long-lasting in vivo activity.

This was demonstrated by Bianchi et al.[4] by administering teprotide to dogs and rats and observing that it inhibited the vasopressor response induced by angiotensin I. Teprotide was shown to be an effective antihyperension agent but it had limited use because of its expense and lack of oral activity.

From this researchers conducted structure-activity studies which allowed them to identify the active binding site of the ACE which allowed for the development of antihypertension drugs to be developed.