KPV

Definition

KPV is the tripeptide lysine-proline-valine, the C-terminal fragment of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone — alpha-MSH(11–13). The parent hormone has broad anti-inflammatory signaling roles, and the fragment retains a measurable share of that activity in laboratory models without the pigmentation effects of the full hormone ^[1].

It is studied principally in models of intestinal inflammation, where the peptide transporter PepT1 — induced in the colon during inflammatory bowel disease — carries KPV into epithelial and immune cells ^[2].

Evidence

The record is preclinical without exception. The central paper showed PepT1-mediated KPV uptake reducing NF-κB–driven inflammatory signaling in human cell lines and improving two models of mouse colitis ^[2]; a parallel murine inflammatory-bowel-disease study reached a similar conclusion the same year ^[3].

A PubMed search restricted to clinical trials of the tripeptide returns nothing: no human efficacy trial of KPV, for any indication, has been published as of August 2026. The compound is nonetheless sold widely as an oral and injectable supplement, which is a larger gap between marketing and record than most molecules in this index carry.

Lawful access

KPV was removed from Category 2 of the interim 503A bulks list in April 2026 without Category 1 listing. In July 2026 the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee voted 8–6, with one abstention, to recommend adding it to the section 503A list — the same margin BPC-157 received. The vote is advisory; no FDA final rule has issued, and no licensed pharmacy may lawfully compound KPV as of August 2026.

Material sold online today is research-use-only supply, outside pharmacy oversight. The pending page explains what an advisory vote does and does not change.

Related molecules

KPV is filed with the repair peptides, where BPC-157 carries the same April-removal-then-July-vote history at the same 8–6 margin, and TB-500 the same history at 8–6 as well; the three molecules stand or fall together if FDA acts on the recommendation.