Category · 22 entries
Healing & Recovery
Peptides studied for tissue repair and recovery.
Abaloparatide
A synthetic analog of the first 34 amino acids of PTHrP, injected at 80 micrograms once a day to build bone. Approved as Tymlos for postmenopausal women and men with osteoporosis at high fracture risk; over 43 months, new spine fractures occurred in 0.9% of women who took it before alendronate against 5.6% after placebo.
Aclerastide
A topical angiotensin-derived peptide for diabetic foot ulcers: dramatic in phase 2, a failure in phase 3, possibly because it raised a wound-damaging enzyme.
ARA-290
An 11-amino-acid EPO-derived peptide studied for neuropathic pain and tissue protection, without the red-cell-stimulating effects of full erythropoietin.
BPC-157
A synthetic pentadecapeptide from gastric protein, widely studied in animal models for tendon, ligament, and gastrointestinal healing.
Calcitonin
The hormone that switches off bone-dissolving cells: one 1,255-woman fracture trial, and a later option now that stronger drugs exist.
Difelikefalin
A kappa opioid agonist that stays largely outside the brain, injected into the dialysis line after each session. Approved as Korsuva for kidney-disease itch; in KALM-1, 49.1% had a 3-point drop in itch score against 27.9% on placebo.
Elcatonin
A synthetic eel calcitonin injected weekly in Japan for osteoporosis: it raised spine density and eased fracture pain, but did not cut fractures in a three-year placebo trial.
FK-13
The 13-residue FKRIVQRIKDFLR central fragment of LL-37 — the smallest LL-37 fragment that retains broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity while losing much of the parent peptide's cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells. Research-only; no clinical development program.
GHK-Cu
A copper-binding tripeptide found in human plasma and sold widely in skin care; the evidence is mostly cell and animal work, with few trials in people.
Histatin
The histidine-rich salivary peptides that kill Candida and close wounds, trialled twice in dentistry and never marketed.
KPV
A tripeptide from the tail of α-MSH: anti-inflammatory in mouse colitis and cell studies, never tested in people, and recommended for compounding by FDA's advisers in July 2026.
KR-12
KRIVQRIKDFLR — the minimal 12-residue bactericidal fragment of LL-37. Retains selective antimicrobial activity while losing LL-37's host-cell toxicity, making it the canonical template for LL-37-derived antimicrobial peptide drug discovery. Research-only.
Larazotide
An oral tight-junction regulator peptide (AT-1001) tested in coeliac disease: it eased symptoms at some doses but never changed its permeability marker, and its phase 3 trial was terminated by the sponsor in 2022. Not approved.
Linaclotide
An oral peptide that works inside the bowel, approved for IBS with constipation and for constipation from the age of two.
LL-37
The only human cathelicidin — an antimicrobial peptide with direct activity against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and biofilms, with additional roles in wound healing and immune signaling.
Omiganan
An indolicidin-derived cationic antimicrobial peptide developed as a topical gel over two decades. Its catheter-infection phase 3 trials (completed 2003, and CLIRS, 2005–2008) missed their primary endpoints, and its 2015–2017 rosacea phase 3 programme produced one positive and one negative trial. Never approved.
Palopegteriparatide
Parathyroid hormone's active fragment on a carrier that releases it steadily, injected once a day to replace the missing hormone in hypoparathyroidism. Approved as Yorvipath in 2024: in the PaTHway trial, 81% of adults had normal blood calcium without active vitamin D or high-dose calcium at one year.
Pexiganan
A synthetic 22-amino-acid analogue of the frog-skin peptide magainin 2, tested as a 1% cream against oral ofloxacin in two phase 3 trials in 835 people with mildly infected diabetic foot ulcers; about 85-90% improved on either. Never approved.
Plecanatide
A uroguanylin copy that draws water into the gut: approved as Trulance for chronic constipation and IBS-C, boxed warning under age 6.
TB-500
A synthetic fragment of thymosin β4 studied in animal models for actin-binding-mediated tissue repair, particularly in cardiac and soft-tissue injury.
Teriparatide
The first 34 amino acids of parathyroid hormone, injected at 20 micrograms once a day to build bone. Approved as Forteo for osteoporosis at high fracture risk: in the 1,360-woman VERO trial, new spine fractures occurred in 5.4% against 12.0% on risedronate over two years. Fracture-healing trials found no clear benefit.
Thymosin β4
The body's main actin-sequestering peptide, 43 amino acids long: tested as eye drops (RGN-259) for dry eye and corneal wounds, and not the short TB-500 fragment.