Staging preview: health content pending qualified review
D2C Peptides

Dosage information

KPV dosage

No human dose of KPV has been established.1 FDA's 2026 review found no clinical studies and no human pharmacokinetic data for KPV by any route.1 Published amounts come from mouse experiments, such as KPV at 100 micromolar in drinking water for 8 days, and from cell studies that report concentrations rather than doses.23

This page summarizes published sources for information only. It is not medical advice and does not tell anyone to use a product. Questions about your own health belong with a licensed clinician. For questions about an order or a product, contact us.

Is there an established KPV dosage?

No. KPV is not part of any approved drug, so there is no label, no approved schedule and no established human dose.1 FDA's 2026 review found no clinical studies and no human pharmacokinetic data by any route, which leaves no tested dose, schedule, cycle or length of use for people.1 The tables below record what published experiments used, with species, route and duration. They are a record of research, not doses for anyone to follow.

Doses in animal studies

Study Species and model Route Amount and schedule Reported result
Dalmasso, 2008 Female C57BL/6 mice; colitis induced with 3% DSS; the methods give 10 mice per group, the DSS weight chart 52 By mouth, in drinking water 100 micromolar KPV for 8 days2 Less colitis and lower inflammatory cytokine expression6
Schaible, 2013 Mice; controlled brain injury Injection into the abdomen (intraperitoneal) 1 mg/kg once, 30 minutes after the injury, compared with saline4 Smaller lesions and less nerve-cell death; TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta were not reduced4
Laroui, 2010 Mice; DSS colitis Not stated in the abstract; nanoparticles in an alginate and chitosan gel built to release KPV in the colon7 A KPV concentration 12,000-fold lower than in free solution7 Protection similar to free KPV7

The same 2008 team also induced colitis with TNBS, a chemical injected into the colon at 150 mg/kg; that figure is the dose of the irritant, not of KPV.2 Oral KPV reduced TNBS colitis as well.6

Studies whose doses are not in the sources reviewed

  • Kannengiesser, 2008 (mice, DSS and T-cell transfer colitis): treated mice recovered earlier and regained more weight; the abstract gives no dose.8
  • Getting, 2003 (mice, peritonitis): KPV given systemically reduced white-cell build-up in the abdomen; the abstract gives no dose.9
  • Hiltz and Lipton, 1989 (mice, ear swelling): graded doses reduced swelling in a dose-related way, compared with saline and a large dose of corticosteroid.10 FDA classes this study as testing N-acetylated KPV, a slightly modified form.1
  • Xiao, 2017 (mice, ulcerative colitis model): hyaluronic acid-coated KPV nanoparticles in a hydrogel, given by mouth.11
  • Viennois, 2016 (mice, colitis-linked colon cancer): KPV prevented tumors in normal mice but not in mice lacking PepT1.12
  • Shao, 2021 (rats, chemotherapy mouth sores): a gel carrying KPV and the plant compound EGCG, applied to the gums.13
  • An, 2026 (mice on a high-fat diet): KPV given by mouth.14

Concentrations in cell studies (not doses)

Cells Concentration What it did
Human intestinal cells (Caco2-BBE) 10 nanomolar Reduced IL-1 beta-triggered NF-kappa B activity in a reporter test2
Mouse macrophage-like cells (RAW 264.7) Largest effect between 1 nanomolar and 1 micromolar Inhibited NF-kappa B movement into the nucleus; also inhibited nitric oxide production3
Human skin cells (HaCaT) exposed to fine dust 50 micrograms per mL Restored cell survival and lowered IL-1 beta15
Mouse fat precursor cells (3T3-L1) 100 micrograms per mL About 55% less fat staining and 38% less triglyceride14

Reading the units

Micromolar and nanomolar describe how much KPV is dissolved in a liter of liquid, not how much an animal received. Using PubChem's molar mass for the free base, 342.43 g/mol, 100 micromolar is about 34 mg per liter (0.034 mg/mL), and 10 nanomolar is about 3.4 micrograms per liter (our arithmetic).16 The skin and fat cell studies used roughly 146 and 292 micromolar, more than 10,000 times the 10 nanomolar used on intestinal cells (our arithmetic). A dose of 1 mg/kg means 1 mg per kilogram of the mouse's body weight.

Why study doses are not a guide

  • No human pharmacokinetics: FDA found no data on what happens to KPV in the human body by any route, so how much reaches the blood or tissues is unknown.1
  • Delivery changed the results: nanoparticles matched free KPV at a 12,000-fold lower concentration, and KPV had no effect on tumors in mice lacking the PepT1 transporter.712
  • No toxicity testing: FDA found no acute or repeat-dose toxicity studies, even in animals, so there is no measured safety margin to compare any amount against.1
  • Different molecules under one name: FDA left studies of N-acetylated KPV and of a KPV dimer out of its evaluation, and has seen several salts and derivatives sold as KPV.1
  • Route is unresolved: microneedles and a weak electric current raised skin delivery in lab tests, and FDA notes it is unknown whether such methods also raise absorption into the body.51

The KPV profile summarizes the research. KPV benefits and uses sets out what each study found, and KPV side effects covers what is and is not known about safety. General background is in Peptide dosage basics and the peptide units converter.

More on KPV

  • KPV benefits and uses

    What published sources report about KPV and its uses, with the evidence level of each finding. No promises.

  • KPV side effects

    Side effects of KPV as reported in FDA's 2026 review and published studies, with links to the full profile. No study has tested KPV in people.

KPV in the store

KPV for sale: strengths, stock and shipping are on the product page.

For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Read the research use policy.

Frequently asked questions

Can you take KPV every day?

No daily dose, schedule or length of use has been established for KPV in people.1 FDA found no human studies of KPV and no repeat-dose toxicity studies even in animals, so the safety of daily or long-term use is unknown.1 One mouse colitis experiment put KPV in the animals' drinking water for 8 days; that describes an experiment, not guidance for people.2

Do I need to cycle off KPV?

No cycling schedule for KPV has been studied in people.1 FDA's 2026 review found no human dosing, pharmacokinetic or long-term safety data, so no on-and-off pattern for KPV rests on evidence.1 The animal studies on this page ran short, fixed experiments, such as one injection after a brain injury or 8 days of treatment during induced colitis.42

How long does it take to feel KPV?

There are no human data to answer this: FDA found no human pharmacokinetic or pharmacodynamic studies of KPV by any route, so how fast it acts in people, or whether it acts at all, is unknown.1 Timing in animal work describes an experiment, not an expected effect: in one mouse study, a single injection was given 30 minutes after a brain injury.4

Is there a standard strength for KPV cream?

No. The only strength in FDA's 2026 review was a 0.1% topical cream or gel proposed in a compounding nomination that was later withdrawn, and FDA found no human data on it.1 Delivery through skin is also uncertain: in lab tests on human skin, KPV did not cross intact skin in detectable amounts by passive diffusion, and microneedle pretreatment raised delivery to 4.4 micrograms per square centimeter per hour.5

Written by D2C Peptides Editorial Team.

Pending qualified review.

Updated .

Sources

  1. FDA Evaluation of KPV-Related Bulk Drug Substances (KPV (Free Base) and KPV acetate) for Inclusion on the 503A Bulk Drug Substances List, FDA briefing document for the July 23-24, 2026 PCAC meeting (memo dated 5/12/2026). U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2026.
  2. PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation (Dalmasso G et al.), full text [PMC2431115]. Gastroenterology (full text via PubMed Central, NIH/NLM), 2008.
  3. Effects of melanocortin peptides on lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma-induced NF-kappaB DNA binding and nitric oxide production in macrophage-like RAW 264.7 cells: evidence for dual mechanisms of action (Mandrika I et al.) [PMID 11239505]. Biochemical Pharmacology (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2001.
  4. Single administration of tripeptide α-MSH(11-13) attenuates brain damage by reduced inflammation and apoptosis after experimental traumatic brain injury in mice (Schaible EV et al.) [PMID 23940690]. PLoS One (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2013.
  5. Transdermal Iontophoretic Delivery of Lysine-Proline-Valine (KPV) Peptide Across Microporated Human Skin (Pawar K et al.) [PMID 28343991]. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2017.
  6. PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation (Dalmasso G et al.) [PMID 18061177]. Gastroenterology (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2008.
  7. Drug-loaded nanoparticles targeted to the colon with polysaccharide hydrogel reduce colitis in a mouse model (Laroui H et al.) [PMID 19909746]. Gastroenterology (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2010.
  8. Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease (Kannengiesser K et al.) [PMID 18092346]. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2008.
  9. Dissection of the anti-inflammatory effect of the core and C-terminal (KPV) alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone peptides (Getting SJ et al.) [PMID 12750433]. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2003.
  10. Antiinflammatory activity of a COOH-terminal fragment of the neuropeptide alpha-MSH (Hiltz ME, Lipton JM) [PMID 2550304]. FASEB Journal (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 1989.
  11. Orally Targeted Delivery of Tripeptide KPV via Hyaluronic Acid-Functionalized Nanoparticles Efficiently Alleviates Ulcerative Colitis (Xiao B et al.) [PMID 28143741]. Molecular Therapy (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2017.
  12. Critical role of PepT1 in promoting colitis-associated cancer and therapeutic benefits of the anti-inflammatory PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV in a murine model (Viennois E et al.) [PMID 27458604]. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2016.
  13. In situ mucoadhesive hydrogel capturing tripeptide KPV: the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and repairing effect on chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis (Shao W et al.) [PMID 34846053]. Biomaterials Science (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities), 2021.
  14. KPV attenuates adipogenesis and lipid metabolism through modulation of ROS-mediated AKT/mTORC1/PPARγ signaling (An SH et al.) [PMID 42585803]. Tissue and Cell (abstract via NLM PubMed E-utilities; online ahead of print), 2026.
  15. Lysine-Proline-Valine peptide mitigates fine dust-induced keratinocyte apoptosis and inflammation by regulating oxidative stress and modulating the MAPK/NF-κB pathway (Sung J et al.) [PMID 40073467]. Tissue and Cell (abstract via Europe PMC REST API), 2025.
  16. PubChem compound properties: CID 125672 (Msh (11-13), KPV). National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH/NLM), PubChem PUG REST, 2026.