How common is adverse effects with VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide)? Grade A evidence

What the studies show

Flushing, low blood pressure, diarrhoea and fast heart rate with systemic doses; in TESICO the composite safety outcome was numerically worse on aviptadil without reaching significance. Intracavernosal use: pain and prolonged erection.

Several well-run randomised trials in people, pointing the same way. You can plan around this. It still says nothing about whether the effect is worth the side effects for you.

1
Brown SM, Barkauskas CE, Grund B, et al. Intravenous aviptadil and remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19-associated hypoxaemic respiratory failure in the USA (TESICO): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial.Lancet Respir Med, 2023461 patients; stopped for futility.
2
Invicorp (aviptadil / phentolamine) — Summary of Product Characteristics.MHRA / emc, UKLicensed use in erectile dysfunction.

In context

Vasoactive intestinal peptide is a natural hormone that relaxes smooth muscle and blood vessels and dampens inflammation, made throughout the gut, lungs and nervous system. As the drug aviptadil it is licensed in the UK and some other countries — combined with phentolamine as an injection into the penis — for erectile dysfunction. Its pandemic moment came as an intravenous treatment for COVID-19 respiratory failure: the NIH-run TESICO trial of 461 patients was stopped for futility, with no improvement in outcomes or survival. The nasal-spray use promoted for 'chronic inflammatory response syndrome' from mould exposure has never been tested in a controlled trial.

VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) is licensed narrowly (ed, some countries); other uses unapproved. Legal status differs by country — see the regulation section or the jurisdiction pages.

Questions

Is VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) proven to cause adverse effects?

Yes, as far as human trials can show it: TESICO + licensing data. LYO grades this outcome A.

What studies are behind the grade?

Is VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) approved for this?

VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) is an approved medicine (Licensed narrowly (ED, some countries); other uses unapproved); whether this particular outcome is a licensed indication is stated on the compound page's regulation section.

Other outcomes for VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide)

ACOVID-19 respiratory failure (intravenous)1 large RCT (n=461) — stopped for futility
ASurvival in COVID-19 respiratory failureTESICO
BErectile dysfunction (intracavernosal, with phentolamine)Licensing trials
CPulmonary hypertension (inhaled)Small studies
D'Mould illness' / CIRS (nasal spray)None controlled

Written and maintained by LYO Research — how pages are written and checked. Reviewed 10 September 2026. Grades count human evidence only; see how LYO grades. Not medical advice. Correct this page →