LL-37
Also referenced as: Cathelicidin LL-37
A human host-defense peptide with antimicrobial and inflammatory signalling activity.
- Evidence grade
- CEarly Human Research
Early Human Research
- Regulatory status
- Investigational
Investigational; not FDA-approved for the uses discussed.
- Human data
- Yes
Registered clinical trials exist
- Last reviewed
- October 27, 2026
Overview
A human host-defense peptide with antimicrobial and inflammatory signalling activity.
Investigational; not FDA-approved for the uses discussed.
Topical wound findings cannot be transferred to injections or broad healing claims.
Why It's Being Studied
- Venous leg ulcers
- Diabetic wound research
- Host-defense peptides
Mechanism of Action
Its membrane and immune effects depend on local concentration and biological context, and can include inflammation as well as defense.
Its membrane and immune effects depend on local concentration and biological context, and can include inflammation as well as defense. Topical wound findings cannot be transferred to injections or broad healing claims.
From molecular target to clinical evidence
Tap each stage to see what happens.
Background: Clinical Peptide Medicines
Clinical peptide medicines include endocrine treatments, antimicrobial drugs, receptor blockers and targeted diagnostic or cancer agents. They do not share one mechanism or one set of indications.
An approval belongs to a specific medicine and indication. A diagnostic tracer, an antibiotic and a hormone are not interchangeable wellness products; read each profile's own mechanism and prescribing source.
Research Areas & Routes Studied
- Venous leg ulcers
- Diabetic wound research
- Host-defense peptides
- Topical clinical research
- Cell and animal research
Evidence Summary
Small randomized topical wound studies provide human signals; these do not establish systemic infection treatment or injectable immune enhancement.
Higher tiers carry more weight. Filled tiers have evidence for LL-37; tap to read it.
- Small randomized topical wound studies provide human signals; these do not establish systemic infection treatment or injectable immune enhancement.
1 cited sources.
- Clinical trial1
Human clinical evidence
- Small randomized topical wound studies provide human signals; these do not establish systemic infection treatment or injectable immune enhancement.
Reported Adverse Events in Research
- Context-dependent inflammatory and cytotoxic activity is possible; long-term systemic safety is not established.
Limitations of Current Evidence
- Topical wound findings cannot be transferred to injections or broad healing claims.
- Findings apply to the product, route and population studied; they do not establish benefits or safety for unrelated wellness uses or research-vial products.
How to Read This Research
- Is this a single molecule or a family of medicines?
- Is the use diagnostic, therapeutic or investigational?
- Does the quoted outcome match the exact product, formulation and population?
- Use the compound-specific mechanism above; this diagram describes drug development, not a shared biological pathway.
- Historical approval, present availability and off-label use are distinct questions.
- For radiopharmaceuticals and hospital medicines, specialist handling is part of the treatment context.
- Indication
- The condition and population for which a medicine is approved.
- Antagonist
- A compound that blocks activity at a receptor.
- Radiopharmaceutical
- A medicine containing a radioactive isotope for imaging or treatment.
Compare With Other Compounds
| LL-37 | Trofinetide | |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence grade | C — Early Human Research | B — Moderate Human Evidence |
| Regulatory status | Investigational | FDA Approved for Specific Indication |
| Human data | Yes | Yes |
| Clinical trials | Registered trials exist | Registered trials exist |
| Research routes | Topical clinical research, Cell and animal research | Oral approved medicine |
| Cited sources | 1 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Research References
- Clinical trial
LL-37 — clinical trial