Davunetide Reference

Plain English

What it is

Davunetide (also called NAP or AL-108) is a small lab-made peptide. It is built from a piece of a natural brain protein known as ADNP, and it was created to try to protect nerve cells.

What people use it for

In peptide circles it gets discussed for memory, thinking, and protecting the brain in conditions where nerve cells slowly break down. It does have a real history of human studies, which makes it more researched than peptides known only from chemical registries.

What the science shows

Davunetide has been tested in people. Its largest study, a trial in a rare brain disease called progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), worked no better than a dummy treatment and that program was stopped. So the idea that it sharpens thinking is not backed by strong results.

The catch

There is no FDA-approved davunetide medicine. Because the main human trial failed, it stays a research compound and not a proven brain booster. More recent work has shifted toward a rare childhood genetic condition, and that is still being tested.

Reference summary

Davunetide has human clinical-trial history in neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric contexts. The PSP Phase 2/3 trial failed primary endpoints, so community cognitive-enhancement claims should be tempered.

Regulatory and posture

Categories

Cognitive

Aliases

NAP, AL-108, NAPVSIPQ, CP201

Evidence posture

human - Human trial history exists, but the major PSP program failed. Not an approved neuroprotective or nootropic product.

Regulatory status

No FDA-approved davunetide drug label. A Phase 2/3 progressive supranuclear palsy trial was completed and did not establish efficacy sufficient for approval.

Content review status

research reference