Pentapeptide-18, also called Leuphasyl, is a cosmetic peptide modeled on leucine enkephalin, used in serums marketed for expression lines, not an approved drug. On its own, it has been tested only in lab cells, including cancer cells and skin cells. PepBank shows 3 results on pentapeptide-18 from animal and lab studies. No study in people has reported results yet. Data as of 2026-10-30.
Also known as pentapeptide 18, Leuphasyl
| What it is | Synthetic analog, 5 amino acids |
|---|---|
| Approval | Regulatory status not recorded |
| In sport | Status unknown |
| Studies | 3 studies with results. 2 of them gave pentapeptide-18, with 3 results. 3 in lab cells |
| Clinical trials | None registered |
| Community use | Cosmetic serums marketed for expression lines |
A cosmetic pentapeptide used in serums marketed for expression lines.
Amino acids in one chain
The key facts about the molecule. Long codes are in the closed section below.
Three-letter sequenceTyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Leu
InChIKeyZHUJMSMQIPIPTF-JMBSJVKXSA-N
SMILESC[C@H](C(=O)NCC(=O)N[C@@H](CC1=CC=CC=C1)C(=O)N[C@@H](CC(C)C)C(=O)O)NC(=O)[C@H](CC2=CC=C(C=C2)O)N
Results grouped by what the studies measured. Each card shows where its results come from.
In cells, Leuphasyl showed particularly pronounced toxicity in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. Cell biochemistry and biophysics, 2026
Studies in people come first, then studies in animals and in the lab.
Status unknown.
Status unknown.
Status unknown.
Regulatory status not recorded. Status unknown.
Laws and labels change, so check the regulator for the current status.
PepBank has 1 safety result from studies of pentapeptide-18. None of them come from studies in people, so they do not show what happens in people.
The doses that these studies used. They are not recommendations.
| Dose as reported | Class | Species | Route | Duration | Design | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| up to 1 mg/mL | Lab | human | Not reported | Not reported | Study on cells in a dish | Akhan 2026 |
What people report online. It comes from forums and guides, not from studies.
The cited source reports this use. The report does not establish clinical efficacy or safety.
| Context | Route | Amount | How often | How long | Agreement | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic serums marketed for expression lines | topical | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Single source. The source carries commercial or referral links. Its underlying reports were not independently confirmed. | S1 |
Gaps
The source does not establish product identity, independent outcomes or a safe regimen.
The answer links to every study it uses.
AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.
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In PepBank now:147 peptides, 6 blends and 13 other compounds97,577 study results from 17,383 studies8,473 clinical trialsUpdated