Region — International. Neutral scientific reference — not offered for sale here.
Research reference — not for sale
KPV
Clead outcome
Anti-inflammatory / colitis / IBD…
grades vary by outcome ↓
Peptide
also called — KPV · Lys-Pro-Val (Lysine-Proline-Valine) · α-MSH(11-13) · the C-terminal tripeptide of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone. MW ~342 Da. INCI: none
anti-inflammatorygut / IBD(also studied:) dermatitis, wound healing, antimicrobial — research context
Reference entry — not sold here. The intrigue: it's a fragment of the same hormone behind the tanning and libido peptides (α-MSH) — but it's the anti-inflammatory tail that does NOT act like a melanocortin at all. In the July 2026 FDA PCAC batch alongside BPC-157, TB-500 and MOTS-c. No dosing published here.
In brief
KPV is the anti-inflammatory C-terminal tripeptide of α-MSH — the same hormone behind the melanotan and PT-141 peptides, but stripped of all melanocortin-receptor activity (no tanning, no appetite effect). It works intracellularly via the PepT1 transporter to block NF-κB, which makes it a gut/IBD-focused anti-inflammatory that can even be given orally. It has two decades of preclinical data (strongest in colitis models) but no human clinical trials, and it's currently under FDA compounding review (July 2026).
Legal standing, by region
European Union
Not approved
not approved.
United States
Not FDA-approved (gray-market)
Not FDA-approved. In the July 2026 PCAC review batch for 503A compounding (regulatory status in flux through the 2025–2026 review). Sold gray-market as a "research" peptide (often for gut health, sometimes alongside BPC-157).
An honest grade per outcome — drawn from the evidence, not any catalogue. Hype and undemonstrated marketing claims grade low.
OutcomeEvidence base · effectGrade
Anti-inflammatory / colitis / IBD (preclinical)
Strong, mechanistically well-characterised animal data — but no human trials
Substantial preclinical (Dalmasso PepT1; Kannengiesser 2008 DSS/TNBS; Xiao 2017 nanoparticle) · Reduces intestinal inflammation
CPepT1 / NF-κB mechanism
Established preclinically; not melanocortin-mediated
Dalmasso et al. + PepT1-knockout confirmation · Genuine, receptor-independent
—Human use (IBD, dermatitis, gut healing — the marketed use)
Zero completed human RCTs in any indication
None · Not demonstrated
FAntimicrobial (S. aureus, C. albicans)
Lab/preclinical
Preclinical · Suggestive
DSafety
No melanocortin activity (so no pigmentation/appetite/BP effects); stable; but no human safety data
Preclinical + preliminary · Favourable so far
—Disclosure
Vallydia sells its own cosmetic serums, and some ingredients graded here belong to the same categories as those products. Grades are drawn from the published evidence by the method we publish, and applied to our own ingredients on the same terms — our copper-peptide serum is graded no more kindly than the peptides it competes with. We disclose the interest so you can weigh it.
Trade names shown here (for example Matrixyl, Argireline, Syn-Ake) are the property of their respective owners and are used only to identify the ingredient under discussion. Their appearance implies no affiliation with, or endorsement by, the proprietor.
Evidence changes
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Identity
a tripeptide (3 amino acids → peptide) that is the C-terminal fragment (residues 11–13) of α-MSH — whose full sequence is SYSMEHFRW-G-KPV. It retains the parent hormone's anti-inflammatory activity while shedding its pigmentary/appetite (melanocortin) activity.
Mechanism (as proposed)
KPV is taken into intestinal epithelial and immune cells via the PepT1 di/tripeptide transporter (up-regulated in inflamed colon), where it inhibits NF-κB and MAP-kinase signalling, reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine output. Critically, this is independent of melanocortin receptors — the feature that separates its anti-inflammatory action from the pigmentary/appetite effects of full-length α-MSH.
Chemical identifiers
Cross-reference identifiers for the authoritative external databases — not a recipe, and nothing about how to use it.
InChIKeyMJXXAPORLGKVLB-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILESC1=CC=C(C=C1)CCCC(=O)C(=O)O
via PubChem exact-name match (KPV) · high confidence
Sources — 4 cited
01Dalmasso G, et al. PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation. (PMC2431115.) (KPV effect is PepT1-mediated, not melanocortin-receptor-mediated.)
02Kannengiesser K, et al. (Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV in two murine IBD models.) 2008.
03Xiao B, et al. (HA-functionalised nanoparticles for oral KPV delivery in DSS colitis.) 2017.
04Brzoska T, et al. (α-MSH and its C-terminal fragments — anti-inflammatory review.) Endocr Rev. 2008.
Updated 2026-07-13 (FDA compounding status evolving — re-check the July PCAC outcome)
Grades reflect the published evidence, not our interest. No dosing, reconstitution, or administration is published for research compounds — that restraint is deliberate.
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Region — International
This site provides neutral scientific reference and sells only products lawful in your region. Nothing here is medical advice, a recommendation, or an offer to supply unapproved medicines. No dosing or administration is published for research compounds. Cosmetic peptides per Regulation (EC) 1223/2009. Unapproved injectable peptides are neither sold nor advertised in the EU (Directive 2001/83/EC, Title VIII). © 2026 Vallydia.