Research compounds
Elafin
Trappin-2, peptidase inhibitor 3
Elafin is an endogenous serine protease inhibitor produced by epithelium, with antiprotease, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. It has been investigated in cardiac surgery and pulmonary disease without reaching approval.
Also known as: trappin-2, peptidase inhibitor 3
- Status
- Elafin is a research compound and not approved by the FDA for human use.
- Evidence
- Early human data. Only small or early-phase studies in people so far.
- Half-life
- Short; cleared within hours.
- How it's taken
- Intravenous infusion in the trial setting
- Mechanism
- Immune modulation
How Elafin works
Elafin inhibits neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3, the destructive proteases released by activated neutrophils. In tissues where neutrophil influx causes collateral damage — lung, gut, vasculature — elafin limits proteolytic injury. It also has direct antimicrobial activity and modulates NF-kB signalling independently of its antiprotease function.
What research has looked at
- Its antiprotease target is well validated: alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency demonstrates what unopposed neutrophil elastase does to lung tissue.
- Small trials in cardiac surgery examined elafin for reducing inflammatory injury during cardiopulmonary bypass.
- It combines antiprotease, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity in one molecule, which is unusual.
- It has been studied in pulmonary arterial hypertension, where elastase activity contributes to vascular remodelling.
Evidence level: Early human data. Only small or early-phase studies in people so far. These are areas studied or reported, not promised effects.
Reported side effects and risks
- No elafin-based therapy has been approved, and clinical trials have been small with inconsistent results. No regulator has approved it, the human evidence base is limited, and material sold under this name is research chemical supply with unverified identity, purity, sterility and dose accuracy.
- Systemic antiprotease therapy carries theoretical risk of impairing neutrophil antimicrobial function.
- Recombinant production and delivery to the relevant tissue compartment have both been practical obstacles.
- Material sold as elafin is research chemical supply with unverified identity and purity.
Sources
- PubMed research on elafin trappin-2 neutrophil elastase inhibitor · NIH · National Library of Medicine
- DrugBank record for elafin · DrugBank
- Active clinical trials for elafin · U.S. National Library of Medicine
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Related compounds
Elafin FAQ
What is Elafin?
Elafin is an endogenous serine protease inhibitor produced by epithelium, with antiprotease, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. It has been investigated in cardiac surgery and pulmonary disease without reaching approval.
How does Elafin work?
Elafin inhibits neutrophil elastase and proteinase 3, the destructive proteases released by activated neutrophils. In tissues where neutrophil influx causes collateral damage — lung, gut, vasculature — elafin limits proteolytic injury. It also has direct antimicrobial activity and modulates NF-kB signalling independently of its antiprotease function.
Is Elafin FDA approved?
No. Elafin is a research compound and not approved by the FDA for human use. Evidence level: early human data. Only small or early-phase studies in people so far.
What is the half-life of Elafin?
Reported half-life: Short; cleared within hours.
How is Elafin taken?
Intravenous infusion in the trial setting.
What side effects have been reported with Elafin?
Reported in the sources: No elafin-based therapy has been approved, and clinical trials have been small with inconsistent results. No regulator has approved it, the human evidence base is limited, and material sold under this name is research chemical supply with unverified identity, purity, sterility and dose accuracy; Systemic antiprotease therapy carries theoretical risk of impairing neutrophil antimicrobial function; Recombinant production and delivery to the relevant tissue compartment have both been practical obstacles; Material sold as elafin is research chemical supply with unverified identity and purity.
Educational summary compiled from the sources listed above. Not medical advice. Peptide Vault does not sell, source or recommend any compound. Talk to a qualified clinician before starting or changing anything.