Overview
Designed to kill the blood supply feeding fat tissue. It worked in monkeys — and damaged their kidneys. Development stopped, and it is included here because it continues to be sold online to people unaware of why it was abandoned.
Not approved for human use anywhereNo approval anywhere for human use. Sold under research-use labelling. Not approved. Development discontinued.
| Regulatory status | Development halted after primate studies showed dose-dependent kidney toxicity. Not approved. |
|---|---|
| Drug class | Peptidomimetic targeting prohibitin on adipose vasculature, fused to a pro-apoptotic domain |
| Route | Subcutaneous (research) |
| Half-life | Short |
| Evidence rating |
1/5 Minimal
Evidence rating 1 out of 5: Minimal
Animal or laboratory data only. No human efficacy evidence. |
| Studied in | Obese rhesus monkey studies showing rapid weight loss alongside renal toxicity; rodent studies. Human trials were not pursued. |
How it works
A homing peptide targeting prohibitin, expressed on the endothelium of white adipose tissue vasculature, coupled to a pro-apoptotic peptide domain. Binding triggers apoptosis in the adipose blood supply, causing fat tissue to regress from ischemia.
Evidence base
Rated 1 of 5 — Minimal. Animal or laboratory data only. No human efficacy evidence.
- Abandoned for documented organ toxicity in primates — the clearest possible negative signal short of a human trial.
Benefits & potential uses
Bars indicate how well each claim is supported: three = strong human evidence, two = moderate, one = preliminary or preclinical.
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Rapid fat loss in primates Preliminary
Obese monkeys lost roughly 11% of body weight in four weeks with improved insulin sensitivity.
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Novel targeting mechanism Preliminary
Vascular targeting of adipose tissue is scientifically interesting and mechanistically distinct from appetite-based approaches.
Risks, cons & cautions
Bars indicate seriousness: three = serious or common, two = moderate, one = minor.
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Dose-dependent nephrotoxicity Serious
Kidney damage in primate studies was the reason development stopped. This is not a theoretical concern.
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No human trials ever conducted Serious
It never reached humans in a controlled setting, by decision rather than accident.
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Non-selective apoptosis Serious
Prohibitin is expressed elsewhere; off-target vascular apoptosis is a design-level risk.
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Still sold online Serious
Marketed to consumers who are generally unaware it was abandoned for toxicity.
Who should avoid it
- All human use
If used under medical supervision, monitor
- Not applicable
Regulatory & legal status
Not approved. Development discontinued.
Infographic
Where to read further
We link to live literature searches rather than a frozen citation list, so you always see current results — including anything published after our last review.
- PubMed — all published literature on Adipotide
- PubMed — randomized controlled trials only
- ClinicalTrials.gov — registered human trials
Related peptides in Bone, Muscle & Other
Terms used on this page
- Adiposity
- Adiposity is the total quantity and anatomical distribution of body fat, treated as an active endocrine tissue rather than as inert storage.
- Tissue Perfusion
- Tissue perfusion is the volume of blood delivered through the capillary bed per unit of tissue mass per minute, the quantity that determines local oxygen and drug delivery.
- Insulin Resistance
- Insulin resistance is a state in which a given insulin concentration produces less than the expected effect on glucose uptake, hepatic glucose output or lipolysis.
- Off-Target Activity
- Off-target activity is any interaction a compound has with proteins other than its intended target, and it is a matter of degree rather than a property a drug either has or lacks.
This page is educational information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your medical history, medications, or risk factors. Do not start, stop or change any treatment based on it. Speak to a qualified healthcare professional who knows your case.