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Pick up to three peptides to see how their mechanisms, studied uses and evidence levels differ. Rows where the entries disagree are marked with a blue edge.
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Comparison
Davunetide (NAP)
Cognitive & neuro
Evidence level
Limited evidence
Approval status
Investigational
Mechanism of action
- 1.Binds tubulin and stabilises microtubules, which supports axonal transport.
- 2.Protects synapses in cell and animal models of neurodegeneration.
- 3.Reported reduction of tau hyperphosphorylation in models.
- 4.Reduces amyloid-induced toxicity in cultured neurons.
- 5.Delivered intranasally in trials to reach the brain directly.
Studied for
- Mild cognitive impairment (phase 2)
- Progressive supranuclear palsy (phase 3)
- Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia (phase 2)
- Frontotemporal dementia
Reported effects
- A small phase 2 trial in mild cognitive impairment reported better memory scores
- The phase 3 trial in progressive supranuclear palsy showed no benefit
- The schizophrenia cognition trial showed no clear effect
- No major safety signal across the programme
Side effects
- Nasal irritation
- Headache
- No serious safety signal identified in trials
- Long-term safety unknown beyond trial durations
Research protocol
Research context only - an investigational drug that is no longer in development. Trials used intranasal doses of about 5 to 15 mg daily, and up to 30 mg twice daily in the progressive supranuclear palsy study, for 12 to 52 weeks, with cognitive scales or time to dependency as endpoints.
Research context only
Evidence justification
Well-run phase 2 and phase 3 trials exist, but the definitive trial was negative and no regulator has approved it, so the human evidence does not support a benefit claim.