PeptideFederation

Neuropeptide

VIP

Also known as Vasoactive intestinal peptide, Aviptadil

Approved medicine

Summary

Vasoactive intestinal peptide is a 28-amino-acid neuropeptide found throughout the gut, lungs, brain and immune system. It relaxes smooth muscle, dilates blood vessels and dampens inflammation. Synthetic VIP (aviptadil) has been studied in respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension and sarcoidosis.

Structure

  1. H1
  2. S2
  3. D3
  4. A4
  5. V5
  6. F6
  7. T7
  8. D8
  9. N9
  10. Y10
  11. T11
  12. R12
  13. L13
  14. R14
  15. K15
  16. Q16
  17. M17
  18. A18
  19. V19
  20. K20
  21. K21
  22. Y22
  23. L23
  24. N24
  25. S25
  26. I26
  27. L27
  28. N28

HydrophobicGly / ProPolarBasic (+)Acidic (−)

C-terminally amidated. A member of the secretin/glucagon peptide family.

How it works

VIP acts on VPAC1 and VPAC2 receptors, raising cyclic AMP. In immune cells, it shifts responses away from inflammatory Th1 activity and toward regulatory T cells.

Research use cases

Areas where VIP has been studied. Inclusion here does not mean it works for that purpose.

  • Pulmonary hypertension and acute lung injury
  • Inflammatory and autoimmune disease models
  • Circadian rhythm regulation
  • Erectile dysfunction (approved in combination outside the US)

What the research found

Discovery

Said and Mutt isolated VIP from porcine small intestine in 1970 and showed potent vasodilator activity.1

Immunomodulation

A detailed review summarizes VIP’s anti-inflammatory effects across models of arthritis, colitis, sepsis and other inflammatory conditions.2

Safety and open questions

Flushing, low blood pressure and diarrhoea are expected pharmacological effects. VIP has a very short half-life in blood (around two minutes).

Regulatory status

Aviptadil (synthetic VIP) is approved in combination with phentolamine for erectile dysfunction in some European countries. Not FDA-approved for any use.

Status was accurate when this page was last reviewed on October 26, 2026. Regulations change; check with the relevant authority before relying on it.

VIP: common questions

Is VIP used as a nasal spray?

Some clinicians outside formal approval have used compounded nasal VIP. There are no large controlled trials supporting that route.

Is VIP approved for human use?

Aviptadil (synthetic VIP) is approved in combination with phentolamine for erectile dysfunction in some European countries. Not FDA-approved for any use.

References

  1. Said SI, Mutt V. (1970). Polypeptide with broad biological activity: isolation from small intestine. Science.
  2. Delgado M, Pozo D, Ganea D. (2004). The significance of vasoactive intestinal peptide in immunomodulation. Pharmacological Reviews.

Links open a PubMed search for the exact title, or the original source where one is given.