Peptides / Brain and mood

Natural fragment · 8 amino acids · 824.9 Da

Davunetide

Not approved

Davunetide, also called NAP, is an experimental eight-amino-acid peptide from the protein ADNP, not approved, and a phase 2/3 trial in progressive supranuclear palsy did not show benefit. Studies in people tested it on memory, physical function and neuroprotection, and tracked side effects. PepBank shows 37 results on davunetide from 8 studies in people, and 260 from animal and lab studies. The strongest evidence is a randomized trial in people. Data as of 2026-10-30.

Also known as NAP, AL-108, AL-208, CP201, NAPVSIPQ

8 amino acids, from first to lastNAPVSIPQ

Evidence level: Some studies in people37 of 297 results come from studies in people.

Results in people

12% of 297 results

Results in animals

138

46% of 297 results

Results in lab cells

122

41% of 297 results

From computer models

0% of 297 results

Overview

Davunetide at a glance

What it is	Natural fragment, 8 amino acids
Approval	Not approved for any use
In sport	Status unknown
Studies	90 studies with results. 78 of them gave davunetide, with 297 results. 37 in people138 in animals122 in lab cells
Best study in people	Randomized controlled trial with 313 people (2014)
Clinical trials	5 registered: 0 active or planned, 1 with posted results
Community use	General cognitive-health self-experimentation

The science

What is davunetide?

An ADNP-derived octapeptide studied for neuroprotection and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Amino acids in one chain

The history of davunetide

1985
The oldest paper on davunetide in PepBank is from 1985.
2006August
A registered trial of davunetide started (NCT00404014).

Davunetide structure and chemistry

The key facts about the molecule. Long codes are in the closed section below.

Sequence, 8 amino acidsFrom the first amino acid to the last

N1APVS5IPQ

Darker means more water-repelling+ and − show charge in the body

Structure

Davunetide is a natural fragment of 8 amino acids, with no ring, no changed amino acids.

Formula

C₃₆H₆₀N₁₀O₁₂

Molecular weight

824.9 g/mol

CAS number

211439-12-2

Targets

Microtubule end-binding protein 1 (EB1) (gene MAPRE1): Microtubule end-binding protein interaction through the SIP motifEvidence: Preclinical experiments linked NAP activity to EB1 and EB3. Silencing either protein inhibited NAP-mediated cell protection. This does not establish clinical target engagement.Microtubule end-binding protein 3 (EB3) (gene MAPRE3): Microtubule end-binding protein interaction through the SIP motifEvidence: Preclinical experiments linked NAP activity to EB1 and EB3. Silencing either protein inhibited NAP-mediated cell protection. This does not establish clinical target engagement.

Development

Allon Therapeutics (historical clinical program). Exonavis Therapeutics Ltd. (current FDA orphan-designation sponsor). Highest phase: phase 3.

Identifiers

PubChem 9832404, ChEMBL CHEMBL2103826, UNII GF00K3IIWE, DrugBank DB12613, KEGG D09401

Full sequence, SMILES and InChIKey

Three-letter sequence
Asn-Ala-Pro-Val-Ser-Ile-Pro-Gln

InChIKey
DWLTUUXCVGVRAV-XWRHUKJGSA-N

SMILES
CC[C@H](C)[C@@H](C(=O)N1CCC[C@H]1C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)N)C(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CO)NC(=O)[C@H](C(C)C)NC(=O)[C@@H]2CCCN2C(=O)[C@H](C)NC(=O)[C@H](CC(=O)N)N

See charge, composition and 3D structure on the Scientific page

The evidence

What davunetide studies show

Results grouped by what the studies measured. Each card shows where its results come from.

Some studies in people37 of 297 results come from studies in people.

Memory and thinking

37 results · 14 in people · 23 animal

In people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, AL-108 and placebo did not significantly differ on the combined memory score. Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders, 2013

Top results

In people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, AL-108 and placebo did not significantly differ on the combined memory score. (Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders, 2013)
In people with schizophrenia, davunetide did not significantly change cognition scores compared with placebo. (Schizophrenia research, 2012)
In women with memory impairment, high-dose davunetide improved digit span more than matched placebo. (Translational psychiatry, 2024)

Brain and nerves

120 results · 6 in people · 66 animal · 48 lab

In people with schizophrenia, high-dose davunetide showed a trend toward higher NAA/Cr than placebo. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2013

Top results

In people with schizophrenia, high-dose davunetide showed a trend toward higher NAA/Cr than placebo. (Neuropsychopharmacology, 2013)
In diabetic rats, NAP reduced retinal cell death compared with vehicle. (Journal of molecular neuroscience, 2014)
In worms with a CAMSAP disorder model, davunetide had variable effects on convulsions. (Epilepsy research, 2026)

Daily life and fitness

15 results · 6 in people · 9 animal

In patients with PSP, davunetide did not change PSPRS scores more than placebo. The Lancet. Neurology, 2014

Top results

In patients with PSP, davunetide did not change PSPRS scores more than placebo. (The Lancet. Neurology, 2014)
In mice, motor function did not differ significantly between NAP-treated and comparison groups. (Neuroscience letters, 2004)
In women with PSP, davunetide slowed loss of daily function by 39 weeks. (Translational psychiatry, 2023)

Mood, stress and behavior

6 results · 2 in people · 4 animal

In women with PSP, the depression scale showed protection with davunetide at 52 weeks. Translational psychiatry, 2023

Top results

In women with PSP, the depression scale showed protection with davunetide at 52 weeks. (Translational psychiatry, 2023)
In people with schizophrenia, davunetide did not significantly change symptom ratings compared with placebo. (Schizophrenia research, 2012)
In mice, daily intranasal NAP reduced anxiety measured by time in open maze arms after 5 months. (Neuroscience letters, 2004)

Survival and serious illness

3 results · 1 in people · 2 animal

In patients with PSP, 11 died with davunetide versus ten with placebo. The Lancet. Neurology, 2014

Top results

In patients with PSP, 11 died with davunetide versus ten with placebo. (The Lancet. Neurology, 2014)
In mice, NAP alone reduced fetal death compared with alcohol alone. (The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 2001)
In mice with an ALS model, NAP treatment increased life span. (Neurobiology of disease, 2013)

Immune system and inflammation

8 results · 1 animal · 7 lab

In mice with head injury, NAP treatment decreased injury-associated Mac-1 expression at the injury site. Current Alzheimer research, 2005

Top results

In mice with head injury, NAP treatment decreased injury-associated Mac-1 expression at the injury site. (Current Alzheimer research, 2005)
In cells, NAP reduced CD69 expression in human immune cells. (Neuroimmunomodulation, 2010)
In cells, NAP reduced the inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha. (Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2006)

All 90 davunetide studies by area Open the Scientific page

Key davunetide studies

Studies in people come first, then studies in animals and in the lab.

People
Davunetide in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2/3 trial
Boxer et al. 2014 · The Lancet. Neurology · 313 people · cited by 237
7 results
People
Effects of davunetide on N-acetylaspartate and choline in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in patients with schizophrenia
Jarskog et al. 2013 · Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology · 15 people · cited by 54
4 results
People
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose, randomized study to evaluate the safety, tolerability and effects on cognition of AL-108 after 12 weeks of intranasal administration in subjects with mild cognitive impairment
Morimoto et al. 2013 · Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders · 144 people · cited by 93
3 results
People
Effect of the neuroprotective peptide davunetide (AL-108) on cognition and functional capacity in schizophrenia
Javitt et al. 2012 · Schizophrenia research · 63 people · cited by 100
9 results
People
Unexpected gender differences in progressive supranuclear palsy reveal efficacy for davunetide in women
Gozes et al. 2023 · Translational psychiatry · cited by 19
5 results

All 90 Davunetide studies

Davunetide clinical trials

ClinicalTrials.gov lists 5 trials of davunetide. 0 are active or planned, and 1 has posted results. PepBank does not show trial results.

Solid bars are dates that happened. Hatched bars are planned dates. Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Davunetide for the Treatment of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy

Phase 2/3completed313 people

A Multicenter Study of NAP (AL-108) in Schizophrenia

Phase 2completed63 people

Study to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability, and Effect of AL208 on Mild Cognitive Impairment Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Phase 2completed234 people

All 5 Davunetide trials

Status and safety

Is davunetide approved?

FDA

United States

Designation only

Designation only.

EMA

European Union

Designation only

Designation only.

WADA

Sport

Not recorded

Status unknown.

No. Not approved for any use. Its most advanced trial is in phase 3. The FDA, the EMA and the other sources we use show no approval (as of 27 Oct 2026). Status unknown.

Laws and labels change, so check the regulator for the current status.

Davunetide side effects and safety

PepBank has 8 safety results from studies of davunetide. 7 of them come from studies in people.

Safety results from studies (8)

In patients with PSP, davunetide and placebo each had 54 serious adverse events. (The Lancet. Neurology, 2014)
In people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment, AL-108 was generally safe and well tolerated. (Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders, 2013)
In people with schizophrenia, the davunetide trial reported no significant side effects or adverse events. (Schizophrenia research, 2012)
In patients with PSP, 11 died with davunetide versus ten with placebo. (The Lancet. Neurology, 2014)
In patients with PSP, nosebleeds occurred more often with davunetide than placebo. (The Lancet. Neurology, 2014)
In patients with PSP, a runny nose occurred more often with davunetide than placebo. (The Lancet. Neurology, 2014)
In patients with PSP, nasal discomfort occurred more often with davunetide than placebo. (The Lancet. Neurology, 2014)
In mice, researchers found no adverse effects after 6 months of NAP exposure. (The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics, 2008)

See every safety result on the Scientific page

Doses studied (30 shown)

The doses that these studies used. They are not recommendations.

Dose as reported	Class	Species	Route	Duration	Design	Source
30 mg twice daily	Human	human	intranasal	52 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 313	Boxer 2014
30 mg/day	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 15	Jarskog 2013
5 and 30 mg/day	Human	human	Not reported	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 11	Jarskog 2013
5 mg or 30 mg	Human	human	intranasal	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people · n = 63	Javitt 2012
5 mg	Human	human	intranasal	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people	Javitt 2012
30 mg	Human	human	intranasal	12 weeks	Randomized trial in people	Javitt 2012
15 mg twice daily	Human	human	intranasal	Not reported	Trial in people without random groups	Gozes 2024
2 μg/mouse per day, 5 days a week	Animal	mouse	intranasal	24 weeks	Study in live animals	Magen 2014
15 μg/mouse per day, 5 days a week	Animal	mouse	intranasal	24 weeks	Study in live animals	Magen 2014
2 and 15 μg/mouse per day, 5 days a week	Animal	mouse	intranasal	24 weeks	Study in live animals	Magen 2014
100 μg/mL	Animal	rat	intraocular	Not reported	Study in live animals	Scuderi 2014
2μg/Kg body weight	Animal	rat	intranasal	Not reported	Study in live animals	Sharma 2011
3 μg/g	Animal	rat	intraperitoneal	Immediately and 24 h after HI	Study in live animals	Greggio 2011
0.03, 0.3 or 3 microg/g	Animal	Rat	intraperitoneal	Single injection	Study in live animals	Greggio 2009
1.5 mg/kg	Animal	mouse	intraperitoneal	E7 to E15	Study in live animals	Sari 2013
0.3 microg/g body weight	Animal	Mouse	intraperitoneal	22 consecutive days	Study in live animals	Van 2009
100 pM	Lab	mouse	Not reported	Not reported	Study on tissue taken from a body	Wilkemeyer 2003
10(-10) M	Lab	mouse	Not reported	6 h exposure followed by 20 h in control medium	Study on tissue taken from a body	Chen 2005
10(-15) M	Lab	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Gozes 2004
10(-13)-10(-11) M	Lab	rat	Not reported	24 h	Study on cells in a dish	Zemlyak 2000
10(-12) M	Lab	rat	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Zemlyak 2000
10(-10) M	Lab	rat	Not reported	5 days	Study on cells in a dish	Zemlyak 2000
10-15 to 10-10 mol/l	Lab	Rat	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Gozes 2008
>10 pM	Lab	rat	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Brenneman 2004
10(-16)-10(-7) M	Lab	rat	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Ashur-Fabian 2001
10(-10) M	Lab	rat	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Ashur-Fabian 2001
10(-14)M to 10(-8)M	Lab	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Zemlyak 2009
10(-14)-10(-12) M	Lab	Not reported	Not reported	Not reported	Study on cells in a dish	Zemlyak 2009
15fM	Lab	rat	Not reported	72 h	Study on cells in a dish	Arya 2015
100 microM	Lab	rat	Not reported	Not reported	Test-tube study without cells	Zheng 2006

From the community

How people use it

What people report online. It comes from forums and guides, not from studies.

Community-reported. Not tested in trials.

The cited source reports this use. The report does not establish clinical efficacy or safety.

Reported routines and cautions

What people use it for

General cognitive-health self-experimentationS1

Reported regimens

Regimens that community sources report for Davunetide. Community-reported, not tested in trials.
Context	Route	Amount	How often	How long	Agreement	Sources
General cognitive-health self-experimentation	Not stated	2 to 5 mg per day	Not stated	Not stated	Single source. The source carries commercial or referral links. Its underlying reports were not independently confirmed.	S1

Community sources

S1Davunetide community-use guidewww.peptideprotocolwiki.comcarries seller links, not linked

Gaps

The source does not establish product identity, independent outcomes or a safe regimen.

Questions and more

Ask a question about davunetide

The answer links to every study it uses.

What does the evidence say about davunetide?Is davunetide tested in people?Compare with Cerebrolysin Compare with Semax

Sources

Database: PepBank data for davunetide (data version 308560)
Regulator: FDA status record
Regulator: EMA status record
Regulator: WADA status record
Trial registry: ClinicalTrials.gov
Community: community sources (forums and guides), as summarized in the PepBank community file

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.

Ask your AI about davunetide

Curo is a peptide shop. PepBank and Curo have the same owner. See the Curo catalog (opens in a new tab).

Davunetide

Not approved

Also known as NAP, AL-108, AL-208, CP201, NAPVSIPQ

What it is

Natural fragment, 8 amino acids

Approval

Not approved for any use

In sport

Status unknown

Studies

90 studies with results. 78 of them gave davunetide, with 297 results.
37 in people138 in animals122 in lab cells

Best study in people

Randomized controlled trial with 313 people (2014)

Clinical trials

5 registered: 0 active or planned, 1 with posted results

Community use

General cognitive-health self-experimentation

Dose as reported

Class

Species

Route

Duration

Design

Source

30 mg twice daily

Human

human

intranasal

52 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 313

Boxer 2014

30 mg/day

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 15

Jarskog 2013

5 and 30 mg/day

Human

human

Not reported

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 11

Jarskog 2013

5 mg or 30 mg

Human

human

intranasal

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people · n = 63

Javitt 2012

5 mg

Human

human

intranasal

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people

Javitt 2012

30 mg

Human

human

intranasal

12 weeks

Randomized trial in people

Javitt 2012

15 mg twice daily

Human

human

intranasal

Not reported

Trial in people without random groups

Gozes 2024

2 μg/mouse per day, 5 days a week

Animal

mouse

intranasal

24 weeks

Study in live animals

Magen 2014

15 μg/mouse per day, 5 days a week

Animal

mouse

intranasal

24 weeks

Study in live animals

Magen 2014

2 and 15 μg/mouse per day, 5 days a week

Animal

mouse

intranasal

24 weeks

Study in live animals

Magen 2014

100 μg/mL

Animal

rat

intraocular

Not reported

Study in live animals

Scuderi 2014

2μg/Kg body weight

Animal

rat

intranasal

Not reported

Study in live animals

Sharma 2011

3 μg/g

Animal

rat

intraperitoneal

Immediately and 24 h after HI

Study in live animals

Greggio 2011

0.03, 0.3 or 3 microg/g

Animal

Rat

intraperitoneal

Single injection

Study in live animals

Greggio 2009

1.5 mg/kg

Animal

mouse

intraperitoneal

E7 to E15

Study in live animals

Sari 2013

0.3 microg/g body weight

Animal

Mouse

intraperitoneal

22 consecutive days

Study in live animals

Van 2009

100 pM

Lab

mouse

Not reported

Study on tissue taken from a body

Wilkemeyer 2003

10(-10) M

Lab

mouse

Not reported

6 h exposure followed by 20 h in control medium

Study on tissue taken from a body

Chen 2005

10(-15) M

Lab

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Gozes 2004

10(-13)-10(-11) M

Lab

rat

Not reported

24 h

Study on cells in a dish

Zemlyak 2000

10(-12) M

Lab

rat

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Zemlyak 2000

10(-10) M

Lab

rat

Not reported

5 days

Study on cells in a dish

Zemlyak 2000

10-15 to 10-10 mol/l

Lab

Rat

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Gozes 2008

>10 pM

Lab

rat

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Brenneman 2004

10(-16)-10(-7) M

Lab

rat

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Ashur-Fabian 2001

10(-10) M

Lab

rat

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Ashur-Fabian 2001

10(-14)M to 10(-8)M

Lab

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Zemlyak 2009

10(-14)-10(-12) M

Lab

Not reported

Study on cells in a dish

Zemlyak 2009

15fM

Lab

rat

Not reported

72 h

Study on cells in a dish

Arya 2015

100 microM

Lab

rat

Not reported

Test-tube study without cells

Zheng 2006

Context

Route

Amount

How often

How long

Agreement

Sources

General cognitive-health self-experimentation

Not stated

2 to 5 mg per day

Not stated

Single source. The source carries commercial or referral links. Its underlying reports were not independently confirmed.

Davunetide

Davunetide at a glance

What is davunetide?

The history of davunetide

Davunetide structure and chemistry

What davunetide studies show

Memory and thinking

Brain and nerves

Daily life and fitness

Mood, stress and behavior

Survival and serious illness

Immune system and inflammation

Key davunetide studies

Davunetide clinical trials

Is davunetide approved?

Davunetide side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Community sources

Ask a question about davunetide

Related peptides

Sources

Davunetide

Davunetide at a glance

What is davunetide?

The history of davunetide

Davunetide structure and chemistry

What davunetide studies show

Memory and thinking

Brain and nerves

Daily life and fitness

Mood, stress and behavior

Survival and serious illness

Immune system and inflammation

Key davunetide studies

Davunetide clinical trials

Is davunetide approved?

Davunetide side effects and safety

How people use it

What people use it for

Reported regimens

Community sources

Ask a question about davunetide

Related peptides

Sources