Reviewed & approved by Dr. Nova Reyes · Last checked 2026-10-26. ← Back to Evidence Library

Adipotide (FTPP): what the evidence says

Name: Adipotide (FTPP)
Creator: Dr. Nova Reyes
Published: 2026-10-26

At a glance

What it is: a lab-made "homing" peptide (CKGGRAKDC) joined to a cell-killing peptide, (D)(KLAKLAK)2. The homing part binds prohibitin on blood vessels that feed white fat; the killing part makes those vessel cells die, so the fat shrinks. Made by Kolonin, Pasqualini and Arap. Also called prohibitin-targeting peptide 1 (FTPP). ^{R1, R2}

What the evidence says: it reversed obesity in mice and caused fast weight loss and better insulin resistance in obese monkeys. ^{R1, R2} A first-in-human trial at M.D. Anderson enrolled 4 people and was terminated; no results were posted. ^R3

Biggest risks: it is designed to kill cells. In monkeys it caused changes in kidney tubule function at the chosen amounts. Critics argued the weight loss may partly reflect eating less. ^{R2, R4}

Rating


Human Human evidence	None: one terminated phase 1 trial, no results ^R3
Animal Animal / lab evidence	Obese mice and three monkey species ^{R1, R2, R5}
Regulatory	Never approved · Not on FDA 503A or 503B bulk lists · WADA 2026: not named; likely S0 Caution ^{R6, R7, R8}
Established human dose	None. Study details lists what studies used

Evidence verdict: Weight loss in people: No human results (one phase 1 trial, terminated, 4 enrolled, no results) · Weight loss in obese monkeys: Animal only, with kidney effects Card verdict: No human data (weight-loss claims rest on animal studies; 4-person cancer trial terminated with no results posted) Card note: Kidney toxicity in animals, see page

This page reports what studies used. It is not dosing advice.

Legend: HUMAN data · ANIMAL / LAB data · UNKNOWN · UNVERIFIED: not yet confirmed against a primary source

About the evidence: nearly all data come from the inventors' labs (M.D. Anderson and collaborators), with one published critical comment. ^{R1, R2, R4}

What is it?

A "vascular-targeted" drug: it finds blood vessels in white fat and destroys them. Related pages: 5-Amino-1MQ, Tesofensine, AOD-9604.

Does it work?

Animal Obese mice (Kolonin 2004, Nat Med): fat vessels were destroyed, fat shrank and obesity reversed. ^R1
Animal Obese monkeys (Barnhart 2011): quick weight loss, less white fat on MRI and DEXA scans, and better insulin resistance. ^R2
Animal A critique argued part of the effect could come from lower food intake. ^R4
Human People: one phase 1 trial in men with prostate cancer and obesity, 4 enrolled, terminated; no results posted. ^R3

Is it safe?

Animal Kidney: "predictable and reversible" changes in kidney tubule function in all three monkey species. ^R2
Unknown No human safety data.
Unknown The cell-killing design means off-target damage is a real concern.

Gray-market "research use only" adipotide: extra risks

A gray-market vial has no quality control and no guarantee of identity, strength or sterility. We test retail vials blind under the Open Peptide Standard; see /tests/. A passing test covers one batch on one date and does not mean the compound is safe. Making a correct, pure version of this hybrid peptide is harder than for simple peptides.

What we don't know

Unknown Whether it is safe or works in people
Unknown Whether kidney effects fully reverse
Unknown Why the human trial stopped

Is it legal?

US (FDA): never approved. Not on the 503A or 503B bulk category lists, so there is no route for compounding it. ^{R6, R7}
Athletes: not named on the WADA 2026 list. UNVERIFIED likely covered by S0 (non-approved substances). ^R8

Study details

These are amounts researchers used, not recommendations. | Study | People / model | Route | Amount used | Follow-up | Reported | Citation | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Kolonin 2004 | Obese mice | Injection Caution route | UNVERIFIED amount not in abstract | ~1 month Caution | Obesity reversed | [PMID 15133506](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15133506/) | | Barnhart 2011 | Obese rhesus, baboon, cynomolgus monkeys | Subcutaneous Caution | UNVERIFIED "optimal" amounts not in abstract | ~1 month Caution | Weight loss; reversible kidney changes | [PMID 22072637](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22072637/) | | NCT01262664 | 4 men, prostate cancer + obesity | Caution not checked | Single cycle Caution | — | Terminated; no results | [NCT01262664](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01262664) |

Full reference list (PubMed, CT.gov, FDA and WADA checked Oct 26, 2026)

^R1 Kolonin MG, et al. Nat Med. 2004. PMID 15133506
^R2 Barnhart KF, et al. Sci Transl Med. 2011. PMID 22072637
^R3 ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01262664, phase 1, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, terminated "per PI's request," 4 enrolled (CT.gov API v2, checked Oct 26, 2026). https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT01262664
^R4 Criscione L. Sci Transl Med. 2012. PMID 22539771
^R5 Hossen N, et al. J Control Release. 2013. PMID 23871959
^R6 FDA, 503A bulk drug substances categories list (updated May 14, 2026). https://www.fda.gov/media/94155/download
^R7 FDA, 503B bulk drug substances categories list (updated Mar 21, 2025). https://www.fda.gov/media/94164/download
^R8 WADA. The 2026 Prohibited List, S0. https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf

Disclaimer

This page is for education and harm reduction, not medical advice or a recommendation to use Adipotide (FTPP). Talk to a clinician you trust, especially if you have kidney disease, diabetes, a history of cancer, or are pregnant. Report problems to FDA MedWatch (https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch).