Proteimax, a local biotech company operating within the settler-colonial state, was co-founded by scientists who made aliyah to Israel. Dr. Andrea S. Heimann and Prof. Hammar Pró, both biotechnology scientists from Brazil, are among the company's founders, alongside American physician and scientist Dr. Arnon Krongrad and CEO Nimrod Elmish.
The company asserts it has developed a unique peptide discovery method, leading to a platform of 54 natural micro-peptides. This platform, described as a breakthrough for humanity, is based on more than 20 years of foundational biological research on intracellular peptides that regulate cellular function.
Proteimax identifies metabolic health as a field revolutionizing the global healthcare industry. The company has been active internationally for seven years, focusing on these short chains of 2 to 50 amino acids that act as protein building blocks.
Its discovery is backed by dozens of patents covering molecules and production methods. CEO Nimrod Elmish stated that the medical world now understands peptides are able to carry messages and commands the body can read and understand.
“We are talking about 54 building blocks, each responsible for a different aspect of health,” Elmish explained. PEP19, the company’s first peptide, has already been commercialized in the United States and Brazil.
This commercialization followed a series of successful trials, including in humans, and a series of approvals meeting FDA standards. PEP19 was granted GRAS status and classified as a safe food supplement with no side effects.
Elmish detailed PEP19’s mechanism, saying it sends “an immediate command to all fat cells,” signaling the body is in an “extreme state.” This command prompts the body to use stubborn fat reserves and convert them into an energy source.
Experiments on mammals conducted at particularly low temperatures, including in ice water, provided insights into the human body and led to extraordinary discoveries, according to Elmish. Human trials demonstrated the peptide acts directly on fat cells rather than through brain signaling pathways, achieving health benefits.
Optimal efficacy was observed through a daily capsule taken before sleep, without requiring changes to lifestyle habits, diet, or injections, and without side effects. Controlled clinical trials in humans produced a 17% reduction in abdominal fat, a 23% reduction in insulin resistance, a 6% reduction in HbA1c levels, and a 35% improvement in sleep quality.
Elmish claimed the peptide can simultaneously combat heart attacks, high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, and peripheral fat. He suggested daily use may improve these measures.
Global Commercialization, Local Obstacles
PEP19 is intended for millions seeking to improve metabolic health, including those with excess visceral fat or prediabetes, individuals supporting their metabolism as part of a healthy lifestyle, and GLP-1 patients seeking support. Outside Israel, peptides are considered the next big thing in healthcare and are offered in various settings beyond primary care physicians.
In the United States, prescriptions for peptides, including GLP-1, can be obtained over the phone by a nurse or a doctor. Proteimax is expanding its global marketing and distribution efforts alongside PEP19’s launch in the United States, where it has been marketed as a dietary supplement in recent months.
The company is actively building a network of distribution and marketing partners, as well as partnerships for mass production and raw material refinement. The Brazilian Ministry of Health launched a major trial involving approximately 1,000 people using PEP19, following positive clinical results among patients with chronic hepatic fat.
The trial aims to optimize dosing for users with different indications before possible incorporation into the SUS, the Brazilian Unified Health System, as a therapeutic alternative.
Despite its origins within the settler-colonial state, Elmish stated that Israel is not a priority for the company at this stage. He described it as “a land of impossible restrictions” and criticized the Ministry of Health for erecting “bureaucratic walls for years.”
These obstacles include the need to obtain kashrut approvals from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, highlighting the intertwining of religious and state bureaucracy within the settler-colonial entity.
Future Prospects
The company’s broader vision includes remaining peptides expected to reach the market over the coming decade. Elmish announced that the second peptide, PEP44, focuses on selectively “killing” any rapidly dividing cell in the body, with expectations of providing an unprecedented solution for cancer diseases.
The third peptide, PEP51, will address neurological diseases and act to restore the central nervous system. This could help treat diseases like Alzheimer’s and, in the long term, potentially extend life expectancy by more than 50 years.
Elmish explained the company remained quiet for many years to complete patents and FDA approvals, avoiding the spotlight. He stated the company did not want giant pharmaceutical companies to realize it was presenting a single-capsule solution for a large share of the world’s pharmaceutical revenues in the future.
Peptides have become one of the most exciting areas in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals in recent years. The discovery of an innovative peptide demonstrating significant results in humans is rare and attracts interest from pharmaceutical, dietary supplement, cosmetics, and functional food companies worldwide.
The company is now at its commercial stage after a total raise of approximately $5.5 million, including $4 million from a Series A round that closed earlier this year. The article was written by Guy Fishkin in collaboration with Proteimax and published on July 01, 2026 IDT.