Davunetide
Also known as: NAP, AL-108, CP201
Davunetide binds microtubule end-binding proteins to promote microtubule stability and the tau-microtubule interaction, reducing tau hyperphosphorylation in preclinical models.
- Drug class
- ADNP-derived microtubule-stabilizing neuroprotective peptide
- Primary targets
- Microtubules, Tubulin, Microtubule end-binding proteins EB1/EB3, Tau protein
- Dose reference
- Investigational; no approved dose. Trial regimens (not recommendations) used intranasal NAP roughly 5-15 mg in MCI studies and 30 mg twice daily in the phase 2/3 PSP trial.
- Half-life
- Short; preclinical estimates of roughly 15 minutes in brain after intranasal dosing. Human pharmacokinetics were not characterized in the pivotal PSP trial.
- Developer / origin
- Allon Therapeutics (NAP/ADNP discovery by Illana Gozes and colleagues, Tel Aviv University); CP201 program for ADNP syndrome
- Reference year
- 1999
- Evidence score
- 2/5 - Weak / negative pivotal evidence
Weak / negative pivotal evidence
Davunetide has well-characterized preclinical microtubule and tau biology, but its largest human trial failed and no study has established clinical efficacy in any indication.
Mostly animal, ex vivo, cell, or indirect evidence.
Evidence basis
- 313-patient randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2/3 PSP trial (Boxer et al., Lancet Neurology 2014) showed no benefit on co-primary endpoints (PSPRS p=0.72)
- Phase 2 schizophrenia trial: cognition (MCCB) not significant vs placebo; only a functional-capacity (UPSA) signal
- Mechanistic 3R vs 4R tau isoform preference may explain PSP failure
- No FDA approval; investigational repositioning as CP201 for ADNP syndrome lacks a completed pivotal efficacy trial
Key references
- Lancet Neurology / PMCDavunetide in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2/3 trial
- PubMedEffect of the neuroprotective peptide davunetide (AL-108) on cognition and functional capacity in schizophrenia
- PLOS ONENAP (davunetide) preferential interaction with dynamic 3-repeat tau explains differential protection in selected tauopathies
- Frontiers in Neurology / PMCThe ADNP syndrome and CP201 (NAP): potential and hope
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.
Davunetide guides
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