Explore peer-reviewed publications, randomized double-blind clinical trials, and preclinical research on bioactive peptides with clear evidence level ratings.
In a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial, 17,604 patients 45 years of age or older with preexisting cardiovascular disease and a BMI >= 27 but without diabetes received once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide (2.4 mg) or placebo. The primary composite cardiovascular endpoint was death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke. Over a mean follow-up of 39.8 months, semaglutide reduced primary endpoint risk by 20% (HR 0.80; 95% CI 0.72-0.90; P<0.001).
In this phase 2, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 338 adults with obesity or overweight were assigned to receive once-weekly subcutaneous retatrutide (1 mg, 4 mg, 8 mg, or 12 mg) or placebo for 48 weeks. Dose escalation followed predefined schedules. At 48 weeks, the least-squares mean percentage change in body weight with retatrutide reached up to -24.2% in the 12-mg group, accompanied by substantial improvements in cardiometabolic parameters.
Obesity is a chronic disease contributing to substantial morbidity. In this phase 3 double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, 2,539 adults with a BMI >= 30 were assigned to receive once-weekly subcutaneous tirzepatide (5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg) or placebo for 72 weeks.
In this open-label, 40-week, phase 3 trial, 1,879 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1:1 ratio to receive subcutaneous tirzepatide at a dose of 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg or semaglutide at a dose of 1 mg once weekly. The primary endpoint was the change in glycated hemoglobin level from baseline to 40 weeks. All three doses of tirzepatide demonstrated statistically superior reductions in HbA1c and greater reductions in body weight compared to semaglutide 1 mg.
In this double-blind trial, 1,961 adults with a body-mass index of 30 or greater without diabetes were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to 68 weeks of treatment with once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide (at a dose of 2.4 mg) or placebo, plus lifestyle intervention.
Mitochondrial dysfunction characterized by cristae disorganization and excessive ROS contributes to age-related sarcopenia. Here we demonstrate that the cardiolipin-binding peptide SS-31 (elamipretide) administered to aged mice for 8 weeks restored mitochondrial ATP generation capacity, normalized complex I/III electron flux, reduced protein carbonyl oxidation by 45%, and significantly restored in vivo muscle contractile force and endurance.
Two identical, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials (RECONNECT) evaluated the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous bremelanotide (1.75 mg) administered as needed in premenopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Bremelanotide significantly increased Female Sexual Function Index desire domain scores (P<0.001) and significantly decreased Female Sexual Distress Scale-Desire/Arousal/Orgasm distress scores compared with placebo.
GHK-Cu is a natural human copper-binding peptide that stimulates collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan synthesis in dermal fibroblasts. Gene expression database profiling confirms broad upregulation of DNA repair and antioxidant genes.
Mitochondria produce regulatory peptides with systemic hormonal roles. Here, we report the identification of MOTS-c, a 16-amino acid peptide encoded in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. MOTS-c targets skeletal muscle, where it inhibits the folate cycle and de novo purine synthesis, leading to AICAR accumulation and AMPK activation. MOTS-c treatment reversed high-fat-diet-induced insulin resistance and prevented diet-induced obesity in mouse models.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic hexadecapeptide analog of the lipolytic domain of human growth hormone (hGH 177-191). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, healthy subjects received daily oral or subcutaneous AOD-9604 across escalating dose cohorts. AOD-9604 demonstrated an excellent safety profile, with no anti-AOD antibodies detected, no adverse glycemic effects, and zero elevation of circulating IGF-1 concentrations.
The effects of the ACTH(4-10) heptapeptide analog Semax on the expression of neurotrophin genes (Bdnf, Ngf, Ntf3) and neurotrophin receptors (Ntrk1, Ntrk2) were analyzed in rat brain tissues after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Real-time PCR and Western blot demonstrated that Semax rapidly upregulated hippocampal and cortical BDNF mRNA and protein expression during the acute phase (up to 3-fold), promoting neuronal survival and microglial stabilization.
In a multicenter, randomized, open-label trial across 6 intensive care units, 361 patients with severe sepsis were randomized to receive standard therapy or standard therapy plus subcutaneous thymosin alpha 1 (1.6 mg every 12 hours for 7 days). The primary endpoint was 28-day all-cause mortality. 28-day mortality was significantly lower in the thymosin alpha 1 group (26.0% vs. 35.0%, P=0.04), accompanied by accelerated recovery of mHLA-DR expression.
Kisspeptin is an essential upstream activator of GnRH release. We investigated the neuroendocrine response to bolus and continuous intravenous kisspeptin-10 administration in healthy men. Intravenous kisspeptin-10 elicited a rapid, dose-dependent release of luteinizing hormone (LH) and pulse frequency increase within 15 minutes, validating kisspeptin as a potent non-pituitary neuroendocrine regulator of the human reproductive axis.
The stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 accelerates healing of transected Achilles tendon and muscle crush injury in rat models. Microvascular density, collagen fiber alignment, and biomechanical load-to-failure were quantified.
In a randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial, 412 patients with HIV-associated abdominal fat accumulation received daily subcutaneous injections of tesamorelin (2 mg) or placebo for 26 weeks. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was measured by computed tomography. Tesamorelin induced a significant 15.2% reduction in visceral fat volume compared with a 1.0% increase with placebo (P<0.001), while maintaining subcutaneous adipose integrity.
The effect of the synthetic pineal tetrapeptide Epithalon on telomerase activity and telomere length was studied in human somatic fibroblast cell cultures approaching the Hayflick limit. Epithalon induced telomerase gene expression (hTERT) and led to measurable elongation of telomeric repeat sequences, enabling cells to overcome replicative senescence and execute an additional 10 population doublings.
