Adipotide
Also known as: FTPP, prohibitin-targeting peptide
Adipotide is a chimeric peptidomimetic whose CKGGRAKDC homing motif binds prohibitin on white-fat blood-vessel endothelium, where its fused D(KLAKLAK)2 segment disrupts mitochondrial membranes to trigger endothelial apoptosis and regression of the fat tissue's blood supply.
- Drug class
- Pro-apoptotic peptidomimetic (vascular-targeting antiobesity agent)
- Primary targets
- Prohibitin (white adipose tissue endothelium), Annexin A2-prohibitin receptor complex, Mitochondrial membrane (via D(KLAKLAK)2 motif)
- Dose reference
- Preclinical/Phase 1 reference only, NOT a recommendation: ~0.43 mg/kg/day subcutaneously for 28 days in obese monkeys; first-in-human Phase 1 started near 0.03 mg/kg/day SC. No approved human dose.
- Half-life
- Not well characterized in humans; dosed once daily by subcutaneous injection in animal and Phase 1 studies
- Developer / origin
- Kolonin, Pasqualini and Arap laboratories (MD Anderson / UT Health Science Center); clinical development via Ablaris Therapeutics / Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
- Reference year
- 2011
- Evidence score
- 2/5 - Preclinical only; human program halted
Preclinical only; human program halted
Adipotide showed dramatic targeted fat loss in obese monkeys and rodents via prohibitin-directed vascular apoptosis, but it has no validated human efficacy or safety; its first-in-human Phase 1 oncology trial was halted and development was discontinued, primarily over renal toxicity.
Mostly animal, ex vivo, cell, or indirect evidence.
Evidence basis
- 28-day study in obese rhesus monkeys (Science Translational Medicine, 2011): ~7-15% body weight loss and ~39% total body fat reduction at 0.43 mg/kg/day SC
- Original concept and target validation in rodents (Nature Medicine, 2004): prohibitin identified as white-fat vascular marker
- Annexin A2-prohibitin receptor system confirmed in adipose vasculature (JCI Insight, 2016)
- First-in-human Phase 1 trial NCT01262664 (MD Anderson) in metastatic prostate cancer with obesity; program halted with nephrotoxicity as central concern
- Dose-dependent, reversible renal changes observed even in primate studies
Key references
- Science Translational MedicineA peptidomimetic targeting white fat causes weight loss and improved insulin resistance in obese monkeys
- Nature MedicineReversal of obesity by targeted ablation of adipose tissue
- JCI InsightProhibitin/annexin 2 interaction regulates fatty acid transport in adipose tissue
- ClinicalTrials.govPhase I Evaluation of Prohibitin Targeting Peptide 1 in Metastatic Prostate Cancer and Obesity (NCT01262664)
How to read this entry
Dose references and half-life values are pulled from trial protocols, labels, reviews, or published summaries where available. They are context for research and comparison, not a personal dosing recommendation.
Status matters: approved drugs have regulated indications; investigational compounds are still being studied; research-only peptides do not have established human dosing, safety, or efficacy for consumer use.
Adipotide guides
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