KPV
Anti-inflammatory tripeptide
Also KPV peptide, Lys-Pro-Val, Alpha-MSH 11-13, α-MSH(11-13), KPV tripeptide, healing peptide
- Evidence
- CAnimal and cell studies
- FDA status
- Not approvedas of 2026-10-27
- Route
- Several routes
- Studies cited
- 0 human2 animal or cell
A peptide sold online for gut problems and skin conditions. It has only been tested in mice.
Sold for
KPV is sold as an anti-inflammatory peptide for gut problems, skin conditions and general inflammation.
Studies say
KPV reduces colitis in mice when given systemically or in oral nanoparticles, but there is no human data at all, so the grade is C.
Why grade C. For gut inflammation, the use KPV is best known for, the evidence is two mouse colitis studies and a review of the alpha-MSH peptide family. No human study of KPV has been published for any indication. 123
FDA. KPV is not approved by the FDA for any use and is sold online as a research chemical, in oral, topical and injectable forms. The FDA moved it out of its category 2 safety-risk list in April 2026 after the nomination was withdrawn, and in July 2026 the FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted 8-6 to recommend adding it to the list of substances pharmacies may compound. That vote is advisory and does not by itself allow compounding.
Written from 4 cited sources. Fact-checked 2026-10-27: 12 claims checked, 2 corrected. Last refreshed 2026-10-27. Not physician reviewed.
What this means for you
- What people take it for
- Gut and skin inflammation
- Can a US doctor prescribe it?
- No. It is not approved. An FDA panel backed letting pharmacies make it in 2026, but that vote does not allow it yet.
- Properly tested in people?
- No. It has only been tested in mice, and no human study exists.
Evidence checklist
- Randomised controlled trial No human studyno
- Human study over 100 people No human datano
- More than one research group Few groups, mouse workno
- Clinical outcomes, not surrogate markers Mouse colitis scores onlyno
- Human safety data beyond case reports No human safety datano
Drawn from the cited studies below. A dash means the sources give no information.
What it is
KPV is the tail end of a hormone called alpha-MSH (alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone). The tail has three amino acids: lysine, proline and valine. The hormone is a pituitary peptide better known for darkening skin. Researchers found that most of its anti-inflammatory power sits in this tail. KPV keeps that power. It does not darken the skin. 3
It is sold online as capsules, creams and injectable vials. Sellers claim it helps inflammatory bowel disease, eczema and acne. The published work is in animals and cell culture. 31
How it works
The hormone works through melanocortin receptors. Researchers assumed KPV did too. But in the mouse colitis work, its benefit persisted in mice that lacked the melanocortin-1 receptor. So at least part of its action does not need a receptor. Inside cells, KPV dampens NF-kB. This is the master switch for inflammatory gene activity. Cells lining the gut take KPV in through PepT1. This is a transporter for small peptides. That makes delivery by mouth to the gut lining plausible. 12
What human research shows
There are none. Kannengiesser and colleagues gave KPV to mice with two forms of colitis. The mice recovered faster and regained weight better. Tissue samples showed less inflammation. Xiao and colleagues loaded KPV into tiny particles coated with hyaluronic acid. They gave the particles by mouth, in a hydrogel, to mice with colitis. The particles protected the colon lining. They lowered the inflammatory signal TNF-alpha. They worked better than KPV particles without the hyaluronic acid coating. A 2007 review covered peptides related to alpha-MSH. It summarised anti-inflammatory effects in animals with arthritis, colitis or skin inflammation. 123
| Study | Model | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Kannengiesser 2008, mouse colitis | Mice, DSS colitis and T-cell transfer colitis, including MC1R-deficient mice | KPV improved recovery, weight regain and histological inflammation, and rescued all treated MC1R-deficient mice from death, so the effect is partly independent of the melanocortin-1 receptor. 1 |
| Xiao 2017, oral nanoparticles | Mice with colitis, oral KPV in hyaluronic acid nanoparticles | Hyaluronic acid-coated KPV nanoparticles reduced colitis more than uncoated KPV nanoparticles. 2 |
| Luger 2007, alpha-MSH peptides review | Narrative review of animal and cell studies | The anti-inflammatory activity of alpha-MSH resides largely in the KPV tripeptide, shown in models of arthritis and other inflammation. 3 |
Safety
No human safety data exist. In mice, KPV caused no reported toxicity. Its parent hormone is a natural human peptide. In theory, KPV has an edge over the hormone. It skips the skin darkening and the appetite effects that melanocortin receptors cause. But no one has checked that in people. Nobody has tested online products for purity or for sterility. 31
Questions for your clinician
- Is there any human trial of KPV for gut or skin problems?
- What approved treatments exist for my bowel inflammation?
- How can I verify what is in an oral or topical KPV product?
Questions people ask
Is KPV FDA-approved?
No. KPV has never been tested in a clinical trial and has no approved use. It is sold as a research chemical. The FDA moved it out of its category 2 safety-risk list in April 2026 after the nomination was withdrawn. In July 2026 its advisory committee voted 8 to 6 to recommend adding it to the list of substances pharmacies may compound. That vote is advisory and does not by itself allow compounding. 34
Does KPV help inflammatory bowel disease?
In mice, yes. Both KPV injected into the body and KPV nanoparticles taken by mouth reduced colitis. No published study has treated a person with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis with KPV. 12
How is KPV related to alpha-MSH?
It is the last three amino acids of alpha-MSH. Research in the 1990s and 2000s found that this fragment carries most of the hormone's anti-inflammatory effect. It does not darken skin. 3
Citations
- Kannengiesser 2008, Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease doi.org
- Xiao 2017, Molecular Therapy: orally targeted delivery of KPV via hyaluronic acid-functionalised nanoparticles in colitis doi.org
- Luger and Brzoska 2007, Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases: alpha-MSH related peptides as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating drugs doi.org
- FDA: July 23-24, 2026 meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee fda.gov