{"id":"kpv","name":"KPV","aliases":["Lys-Pro-Val","α-MSH(11-13)","melanocortin tripeptide"],"url":"https://lyoresearch.com/compounds/kpv","class":{"id":"healing-peptides","name":"Tissue-repair peptides","url":"https://lyoresearch.com/classes/healing-peptides"},"summary":"KPV is a three-amino-acid fragment (lysine-proline-valine) from the tail of the hormone α-MSH, studied for anti-inflammatory effects. In cell and mouse models of gut inflammation it dampens inflammatory signalling, which is the basis of its reputation for 'healing' and gut health. No controlled human trial of any kind has tested it. It is not approved anywhere.","overall_grade":"D","overall_grade_meaning":"no human evidence","human_trials":"0 controlled","regulatory_status":"Not approved","molecule":{"formula":"C16H30N4O4","molecular_weight":"342.43","cas":"67727-97-3","pubchem_cid":125672,"note":"Recorded as MSH(11-13)"},"pharmacokinetics":{"basis":"none","route":"Oral or injected as sold; no human study","half_life":"No human pharmacokinetic data","licensed_regimen":null,"product":null,"source":null},"outcomes":[{"outcome":"Intestinal / systemic inflammation","grade":"D","grade_meaning":"no human evidence","effect_size":"not measurable","adverse":false,"human_studies":"0 controlled","evidence":"KPV reduces inflammation in mouse models of colitis and in cultured immune and epithelial cells, including when delivered by targeted nanoparticles. No human trial has tested it.","references":[]},{"outcome":"Wound healing / recovery","grade":"D","grade_meaning":"no human evidence","effect_size":"not measurable","adverse":false,"human_studies":"None","evidence":"Popular claims about wound healing and recovery extend from the α-MSH anti-inflammatory literature; there is no controlled human study of KPV for these uses.","references":[]},{"outcome":"Safety in humans","grade":"D","grade_meaning":"no human evidence","effect_size":"not measurable","adverse":true,"human_studies":"None","evidence":"No human dosing study exists, so there is no safety dataset at any dose or route.","references":[]}],"regions":[{"region":"European Union","status":"Unauthorised medicinal product","note":"No marketing authorisation in any member state. Supplying it for human use is an offence under national medicines law; a 'research use only' label does not change that."},{"region":"United States","status":"Not approved","note":"Not an approved drug and not a dietary-supplement ingredient. Sold as a 'research chemical' outside the medical system; the FDA has warned against several compounds in this class."},{"region":"United Kingdom","status":"Unlicensed medicine","note":"Not licensed by the MHRA. Selling or supplying it for human use is an offence under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012."},{"region":"Australia","status":"Prescription-only / unapproved","note":"Not on the ARTG. Supply without a prescription is unlawful; imports are seized."},{"region":"Canada","status":"Not authorised","note":"No Drug Identification Number; selling it for human use is illegal."},{"region":"Sport (WADA)","status":"Prohibited at all times","note":"As a non-approved substance, KPV falls under WADA class S0 (non-approved substances) and is prohibited in and out of competition."}],"faq":[{"q":"Does KPV help gut inflammation in people?","a":"Unknown. The anti-inflammatory data are from mouse colitis models and cell studies. It has never been tested in a controlled human trial."},{"q":"Is KPV related to Melanotan?","a":"It is the small anti-inflammatory tail of the same parent hormone (α-MSH), but without the tanning and appetite effects. Different fragment, different activity."}],"references":[{"cite":"Kannengiesser K, et al. Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease.","where":"Inflamm Bowel Dis, 2008;14:324–331","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18092346/","note":"Mouse colitis models."},{"cite":"Xiao B, et al. Orally targeted delivery of tripeptide KPV via hyaluronic-acid-functionalized nanoparticles alleviates ulcerative colitis.","where":"Mol Ther, 2017;25:1628–1640","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28143741/","note":"Mouse targeted-delivery study."}],"last_reviewed":"2026-09-03","literature_searched_to":"2026-09-03","changelog":[{"date":"2026-09-03","note":"Initial publication. All outcomes graded D on absence of human trials."}],"license":"CC BY 4.0 — cite as “LYO Research” with a link.","methodology":"https://lyoresearch.com/methodology"}