Adipotide

A peptide designed to kill the blood vessels feeding fat tissue. It caused weight loss in obese mice and monkeys but also affected the kidneys.

Evidence: Primarily preclinical research
Half-life: Not known
Sources: 2 cited

Is adipotide FDA-approved?

Not approved by the FDA. Products sold online as "research chemicals" aren't checked for purity, sterility or dose.

Overview

Adipotide homes in on a protein on the blood vessels of white fat and makes those cells die, so the fat tissue shrinks. In obese mice and later obese monkeys, it reduced weight and improved insulin resistance. Monkeys showed dose-related kidney changes that reversed after stopping. It hasn't been tested in published human trials.

How it works

One end of the peptide sticks to prohibitin on fat-tissue blood vessels; the other end is a cell-killing sequence. Losing its blood supply, the fat tissue shrinks.

How long does adipotide stay in the body?

Not established in people.

What it's studied for

Obesity in mice and monkeys

Reported side effects

Kidney changes in monkeys
Lower food intake and dehydration in animal studies

Sources

The studies and prescribing labels this page is written from.