VIP

VIP, or vasoactive intestinal peptide, is an endogenous neuropeptide that has been reviewed in the endocrinology literature since at least the 1980s. It is found in the gut, lungs, and nervous system, including specialized VIP interneurons in the brain. A synthetic form, known as aviptadil, has been used in clinical research. CoreX supplies VIP for laboratory research use only.

VIP acts as a signaling peptide across several tissues. Its name reflects its early characterization as a vasoactive substance originating in the intestine. Review articles describe roles in pulmonary tissue and joint biology, and neuroscience research has examined VIP-expressing interneurons in brain circuit development. The precise mechanisms relevant to each research area remain under investigation, and much of the mechanistic literature consists of reviews rather than definitive trials.

Research has studied inhaled VIP in pulmonary hypertension and intravenous aviptadil in patients with critical COVID-19 respiratory failure in a 60-day multicenter randomized controlled trial. Reviews have examined VIP in pulmonary diseases, osteoarthritis, and neurodevelopmental disorders involving VIP interneurons. These findings describe research interest and early evidence rather than established outcomes, and results in one setting should not be assumed to apply to others.

Human safety data for subcutaneous VIP research protocols are limited, and adverse events are not summarized in the cited study titles. Review literature describes VIP-secreting tumors, a condition in which excessive endogenous VIP production causes clinical illness, which illustrates that sustained high VIP levels have physiological effects. Researchers should consult the full clinical publications for detailed safety reporting from the inhaled and intravenous studies.

Research protocols have used 50–100 mcg per administration, twice daily, by the subcutaneous route, in 8-week blocks followed by 4 weeks off. This describes what protocols have used and is not a recommendation. Published clinical studies have also used other routes, including inhalation and intravenous infusion. Each CoreX order ships with a protocol guide for laboratory research reference.