A targeted fat-destroying peptide that works like a smart missile, cutting off blood supply to fat cells and causing rapid weight loss in primate studies.
Written by Michael Carroll — Owner, Director of Research · Reviewed by the Peptide Initiative Research Team · Editorial standards
Subcutaneous
Route
3 recommended
Sites
Once daily
Frequency
Preparation
Bacteriostatic water (BAC water)
Insulin syringe (29-31 gauge)
Alcohol swabs
Sterile vial of Adipotide powder
Calculator for dose calculation based on body weight
Pro tip
Prepare all supplies on a clean surface before you begin. Having everything ready makes the process smoother and more sterile.
Mixing
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Gather all supplies on a clean, flat surface.
Remove the plastic cap from the peptide vial and wipe the rubber stopper with an alcohol swab. Let it air dry.
Draw the appropriate amount of bacteriostatic water into a sterile syringe.
Insert the needle into the vial at an angle, aiming at the inside wall of the vial. Slowly push the plunger to let the water trickle down the glass wall -- do NOT squirt directly onto the powder.
Once all water is added, gently swirl the vial in a slow circular motion. Never shake the vial, as this can damage the peptide bonds.
Continue swirling until the powder is completely dissolved and the solution is clear. If particles remain, let the vial sit for a few minutes and swirl again.
Label the vial with the date of reconstitution, the peptide name, and the concentration (e.g. 250mcg per 0.1mL).
Example calculation
10mg vial + 2mL BAC water = 5mg/mL concentration. For an 80kg person at 0.25 mg/kg dose: 80 x 0.25 = 20mg needed. At 5mg/mL, draw 4mL total (split into multiple injections if needed).
Dose calculation
Calculate your dose in mg by multiplying your body weight in kg by the mg/kg dose. Then divide by your concentration to get the volume to inject.
Pro tip
Always add the bacteriostatic water slowly, letting it run down the side of the vial. Never shake the vial -- swirl gently to avoid damaging the peptide.
Location
Site 01
Abdomen
Pinch the skin 2 inches from navel. Avoid the area directly around the belly button. Rotate between left and right sides.
Site 02
Outer Thigh
Middle third of the outer thigh. Keep at least 4 inches above the knee and below the hip. Alternate legs each injection.
Site 03
Upper Arm
Back or outer area of the upper arm. This site may require assistance from another person for proper technique.
Rotate between 3 sites to prevent tissue buildup and ensure consistent absorption.
Pro tip
Rotate your injection sites with each dose to prevent lipohypertrophy (buildup of fatty tissue). Keep a simple log of where you last injected.
Step by step
Calculate your dose based on body weight and verify the math
Clean injection site thoroughly with alcohol swab and let dry
Pinch skin to create a fold at the injection site
Insert needle at 45-90 degree angle depending on body composition
Inject slowly and steadily
Remove needle and apply light pressure - do not rub
Pro tip
This peptide uses subcutaneous injection once daily. Inject at a 45-90 degree angle into pinched skin. Aspirate before injecting to ensure you haven't hit a blood vessel.
Timing
Optimal timing
Best time
Morning, at a consistent time each day
With food?
Can be administered with or without food. Ensure adequate hydration throughout the day.
Stacking notes
If using BPC-157 for potential renal support, administer at a different time of day. Avoid combining with other nephrotoxic substances.
Sample daily schedule
Morning (7:00-9:00 AM)
Calculated based on body weight and current tier injection
Site: Rotate between abdomen, thigh, and arm
Take at the same time each day. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily. Monitor urine color - should be light yellow.
Dosing tiers
Dose
0.10 mg/kg
Frequency
Once daily
Duration
About 2 weeks before stepping up
Adipotide is research-only and has never been approved for people. These numbers come from a dose-finding study in obese monkeys, where the dose was raised step by step every 2 weeks [2]. The first-in-man Phase 1 study started lower, at 0.03 mg/kg under the skin once daily for 28 days; it enrolled 4 people and was terminated without posting results [5].
Dose
0.25 mg/kg
Frequency
Once daily
Duration
About 2 weeks at this step
Middle step in the rhesus macaque dose-finding study — not an approved or established human dose. Renal tubular degeneration with elevated creatinine was dose-dependent in those macaques, and this level sits at the point where that injury was observed. The mechanism makes it expected rather than incidental: adipotide is a homing sequence fused to a pro-apoptotic domain, and the kidney accumulates it. [2]
Dose
0.43 mg/kg
Frequency
Once daily
Duration
Up to ~3-4 weeks at this level (studies ran 28 days at the top dose)
This was the best-working ("optimal") dose in obese monkeys, leading to about 10.6% body-weight loss over 28 days. It is from animal research and is not an approved or established human dose. [2]
Preservation
Before mixing
Store lyophilized powder at -20°C for long-term storage (up to 2 years) or 2-8°C for short-term storage (up to 3 months). Keep in original container protected from light. Do not expose to repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
After mixing
Refrigerate immediately at 2-8°C. Store upright to prevent contamination of the stopper. Use within 14 days of reconstitution. Never freeze reconstituted solution as this will destroy the peptide.
Shelf life after mixing
14 days
Signs of degradation
Discard the vial immediately if you notice any of these:
Cloudy or discolored solution (should be clear)
Visible particles or floaters in solution
Solution that fails to fully dissolve
Any unusual odor
Important
When to stop
Serum creatinine rises significantly above your baseline
Marked proteinuria that persists or worsens
Signs of kidney problems (pain in lower back, changes in urination)
Severe or persistent dehydration despite adequate fluid intake
Any allergic reaction (rash, swelling, difficulty breathing)
Completion of the recommended 4-week treatment cycle
Adipotide is a research compound without FDA approval. Use only under medical supervision with regular kidney function monitoring. Stop immediately and consult a healthcare provider if you experience any concerning symptoms.
Clean technique checklist
Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling supplies
Swab vial tops and injection site with alcohol and let dry
Never touch the needle tip or allow it to contact non-sterile surfaces
Use a new syringe and needle for each injection
Dispose of used sharps in a proper sharps container
Store reconstituted peptides according to the storage instructions above
Published research
Kolonin MG, Saha PK, Chan L, Pasqualini R, Arap W · 2004
This foundational study discovered that the CKGGRAKDC peptide homes to white fat blood vessels by binding prohibitin. When linked to a cell-death-inducing sequence, it caused targeted destruction of fat tissue and rapid obesity reversal in mice without detectable side effects.
Barnhart KF, Christianson DR, Hanley PW, et al. · 2011
Obese rhesus monkeys lost an average of 11% body weight in just 4 weeks of treatment. MRI confirmed 17-27% reduction in white adipose tissue. Treated monkeys showed 50% improvement in insulin sensitivity. Kidney effects were predictable and fully reversible.
Kolonin MG, Pasqualini R, Arap W · 2011
This study validated the peptide screening platform used to discover Adipotide and demonstrated how targeting specific vascular markers can be used therapeutically. The approach has implications beyond obesity for targeted drug delivery.
Kim DH, Woods SC, Seeley RJ · 2010
Lean and obese mice and rats were given the pro-apoptotic fat-homing peptide for 4 or 27 days. It completely reversed diet-induced obesity in mice and reduced body weight in mice and rats on a high-fat diet, but did not reduce body weight in animals on a low-fat diet — the selectivity for excess fat comes from this comparison. Weight loss occurred with no change in energy expenditure and with reduced food intake, and a conditioned taste aversion test found no sign of visceral illness. All of this is rodent data.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center · 2012
The only registered human study of adipotide. It opened in May 2012 in men with metastatic prostate cancer and obesity, starting at 0.03 mg/kg injected under the skin once daily for 28 days. Four people were enrolled. The record closed in January 2019 with the status TERMINATED and the reason given as "Terminated per PI's request" — the registry does not attribute the termination to a safety finding. No results have been posted, so there is no published human efficacy or safety outcome for adipotide.
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