Evidence review: Open Peptide Project (verified against primary PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov & FDA records) · Last checked 2026-10-27. ← Back to Evidence Library
Hexapeptide-11 (FVAPFP): what the evidence says
At a glance
What it is: a six-amino-acid peptide (phenylalanine-valine-alanine-proline-phenylalanine-proline) first isolated from yeast extracts and now made synthetically for skin creams. R1, R2
What the evidence says: Animal in human skin cells it switched on the cell's protein clean-up and antioxidant systems and protected against stress-induced aging. R2, R3 Human A skin-deformation test in people reported better elasticity, but the paper gives few details. R2
Biggest risks: no toxicity in skin cells; no human safety data beyond the one small skin test. R2
Rating
| Human Human evidence | Very limited: one small skin test in people R2 |
| Animal Animal / lab evidence | Human skin cells R2, R3 |
| Regulatory | Cosmetic ingredient; not FDA-approved R4 · not on FDA's 503A or 503B bulk-substance category lists and not on FDA's compounding safety-risk page R5, R6, R7 · not named by WADA R8 |
| Established human dose | No |
Evidence verdict: Skin aging: Very limited (lab cell studies plus one small skin-elasticity test in people) · Other uses: No human data
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: almost all evidence is from cells in a dish, from one research group with co-authors from cosmetic companies. The single human test is briefly described.
What is it?
Related pages: decapeptide-12, ghk-cu, matrixyl.
Does it work?
- Animal Cells: activated proteasome, autophagy and antioxidant (Nrf2) responses and protected fibroblasts from oxidative-stress aging. R2 It also acted on pathways (ATM and p53) linked to cell aging. R3
- Human People: a skin-deformation test reported improved elasticity; group size and design are not given in the abstract. R2 UNVERIFIED study size.
- Animal Tested in peptide mixtures in skin cells. R9
Is it safe?
- Animal No significant toxicity in human lung or skin fibroblasts. R2
- Patch-test any new skin product; stop if irritation develops.
Gray-market vials: 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.
Is it legal?
- US: sold as a cosmetic ingredient. Cosmetics do not need FDA approval before sale; products making drug-type claims can be regulated as drugs. R4 No Drugs@FDA application found (openFDA searched Oct 27, 2026).
- Compounding: not on FDA's 503A or 503B bulk-substance category lists and not on FDA's compounding safety-risk page. R5, R6, R7
- Sport: not named on WADA's 2026 Prohibited List. R8
Study details
Study details
These are amounts researchers used, not recommendations.
| Study | People / model | Route | Amount used | Follow-up | Reported | Citation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sklirou 2015 (lab) | Human skin and lung fibroblasts | In vitro | Per study | Per study | Proteostasis and antioxidant responses activated | PMID 25974626 |
| Sklirou 2015 (human test) | Human volunteers, number not given | Topical | Per study | Per study | Better skin elasticity | PMID 25974626 |
Full reference list (PubMed, CT.gov, FDA and WADA checked Oct 27, 2026)
- R1 PubChem CID 24998056, Hexapeptide-11 (Phe-Val-Ala-Pro-Phe-Pro), checked Oct 27, 2026. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24998056
- R2 Sklirou AD, et al. Redox Biol. 2015. PMID 25974626
- R3 Gruber JV, et al. J Cosmet Sci. 2013. PMID 23578831
- R4 FDA. Is It a Cosmetic, a Drug, or Both? (Or Is It Soap?) Content current as of Sep 11, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-laws-regulations/it-cosmetic-drug-or-both-or-it-soap
- R5 FDA, 503A bulk drug substances categories list (updated May 14, 2026). https://www.fda.gov/media/94155/download
- R6 FDA, 503B bulk drug substances categories list (updated Mar 21, 2025). https://www.fda.gov/media/94164/download
- R7 FDA, Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (content current Apr 22, 2026). https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
- R8 WADA. The 2026 Prohibited List, full list checked; compound not named. https://www.wada-ama.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/2026list_en_final_clean_september_2025.pdf
- R9 Wu Y, et al. Skin Pharmacol Physiol. 2021. PMID 33849044
Disclaimer
This page is for education and harm reduction, not medical advice or a recommendation to use Hexapeptide-11 (FVAPFP). This is a cosmetic ingredient, not an FDA-approved drug. Cosmetic products are not reviewed by FDA for effectiveness before sale. Report problems to FDA MedWatch (https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch).