Kisspeptin-10: clinical evidence record
Also known as: Kisspeptin-10, Metastin (45-54), KP-10
Oliver Mackman · Editorial director · Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937)
Last updated 2026-05-22
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AI-friendly summary · Kisspeptin-10
Substantial UK clinical-research programme led by Waljit Dhillo at Imperial College London. Phase 2 trials in fertility (IVF triggering), HSDD, and hypothalamic amenorrhoea. No marketing authorisation. Readers should note a distinction that vendor copy routinely blurs: the headline human studies in this area used kisspeptin-54, the 54-residue parent peptide, given by intravenous infusion in a hospital setting. They are not studies of kisspeptin-10.
Mechanism of action
How Kisspeptin-10 works
10-amino-acid C-terminal fragment of the 54-residue Kisspeptin-54 parent peptide encoded by the KISS1 gene. Acts on the KISS1R receptor in hypothalamic GnRH neurons, the primary upstream regulator of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal reproductive axis.
Top peer-reviewed citations
Selection of the most-cited peer-reviewed literature on Kisspeptin-10. Where a verified PMID or DOI is shown, the citation links to the original record. Other citations list the title, authors, journal and year so the reader can locate the paper through the journal index or the PubMed search linked below. PeptideClear publishes editorial commentary, not clinical guidance.
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Kisspeptin-54 triggers egg maturation in women undergoing in vitro fertilization
Jayasena CN, Abbara A, Comninos AN, et al.. The Journal of clinical investigation, 2014.
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Modulations of human resting brain connectivity by kisspeptin enhance sexual and emotional functions
Comninos AN, Demetriou L, Wall MB, et al.. JCI insight, 2018.
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The GPR54 gene as a regulator of puberty
Seminara SB, Messager S, Chatzidaki EE, et al.. The New England journal of medicine, 2003.
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Kisspeptin administration to women: a window into endogenous kisspeptin secretion and GnRH responsiveness across the menstrual cycle
Jayasena CN, Nijher GM, Comninos AN, et al.. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2012.
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Increasing LH pulsatility in women with hypothalamic amenorrhoea using intravenous infusion of Kisspeptin-54
Jayasena CN, Abbara A, Veldhuis JD, et al.. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2014.
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Kisspeptins and reproduction: physiological roles and regulatory mechanisms
Pinilla L, Aguilar E, Dieguez C, et al.. Physiological reviews, 2012.
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Activation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons by kisspeptin as a neuroendocrine switch for the onset of puberty
Han SK, Gottsch ML, Lee KJ, et al.. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2005.
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Effects of Kisspeptin on Sexual Brain Processing and Penile Tumescence in Men With Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Mills EG, Ertl N, Wall MB, et al.. JAMA network open, 2023.
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Invited review: Translating kisspeptin and neurokinin B biology into new therapies for reproductive health
Mills EG, Dhillo WS. Journal of neuroendocrinology, 2022.
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The Effects of Kisspeptin on Brain Response to Food Images and Psychometric Parameters of Appetite in Healthy Men
Yang L, Demetriou L, Wall MB, et al.. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2021.
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Dynamic modulation of LH secretion by continuous kisspeptin infusion in healthy men
Naveed A, Lippincott MF, Stamou M, et al.. Hormones (Athens, Greece), 2026.
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Kisspeptin-10 regulates glycosaminoglycan and decorin content in human cardiac fibroblast cultures
Radwańska P, Olkiewicz M, Piera L, et al.. Pharmacological reports : PR, 2026.
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The KISS1/KISS1R Axis in Human Placentation: Molecular Mechanisms and Implications for Foetal Growth Restriction and Pre-Eclampsia
Gyokova E, Hristova-Atanasova E, Dimitrova K. International journal of molecular sciences, 2026.
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Kisspeptin-10 attenuates pulmonary arterial hypertension via restoration of mitochondrial function in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells
Huang S, Chen Z, Gong W, et al.. Neuropeptides, 2026.
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Relationship between kisspeptin-10, neurokinin B and dynorphin A in the course of normal and delayed puberty in ewes
Szysiak N, Kosior-Korzecka U, Greguła-Kania M, et al.. Journal of veterinary research, 2026.
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Kisspeptin-10 Promotes Hormone Secretion, Ovarian Follicles Development and Fecundity via PI3K/AKT/ERK Signal Pathway in Mice
Suocheng W, Linglong X, Jingshuang G, et al.. Molecular reproduction and development, 2026.
Full PubMed search: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=kisspeptin+Dhillo.
Registered clinical trials
As of 2026-07-13, Kisspeptin-10 has 4 interventional trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov and the ISRCTN registry. Registration means a study is planned, running or completed. It is not evidence of efficacy, and a listing is not an endorsement.
| Study | Phase | Status | Location | Registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KP-10 and Insulin Secretion in Men NCT03771326 | Phase 3 | Completed | Not stated | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Age-dependent Changes in the Responsiveness of Hypothalamic Pituitary Gonadal Axis in Men NCT03315325 | Phase 3 | Completed | Pakistan | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| Link Between the Sensitivity of Kisspeptin Signalling and Pubertal Onset in Boys. NCT03286517 | Phase 3 | Completed | Pakistan | ClinicalTrials.gov |
| What is the effect of the natural occurring hormone kisspeptin on reproductive hormone secretion in humans? ISRCTN21681316 | Not Applicable | No longer recruiting | England, United Kingdom | ISRCTN |
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov and the ISRCTN registry, refreshed 2026-07-13. See the peptide clinical-trials tracker for the full picture across compounds.
UK regulatory status
Plain-English summary of where Kisspeptin-10 sits under the four UK and international frameworks that govern peptide supply. Editorial commentary, not legal advice.
- Misuse of Drugs Act 1971: Not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
- Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: Not scheduled under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016.
- MHRA medicines classification: No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine.
- WADA Prohibited List: Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List.
Risks and unknowns
What the literature does not yet show about Kisspeptin-10
Known concerns
- The evidence for Kisspeptin-10 is mixed: some human data exists alongside a larger preclinical literature. Mixed evidence is easy to quote selectively, so check whether a claim you have read rests on the human work or the animal work.
- 4 registered interventional trials exist for Kisspeptin-10 and 1 are recruiting, so the evidence base is actively moving. A registration is not a result, and a recruiting trial has by definition not reported.
- Kisspeptin-10 holds no UK marketing authorisation, so nothing you can buy has been assessed by a regulator, released by batch, or dispensed by an accountable pharmacy. Purity, dose accuracy and sterility rest entirely on the seller's own documentation.
Open questions in the literature
- Long-term outcomes beyond the duration of the published trials are unknown, and the published trials are considerably shorter than the periods over which people actually use these compounds.
- Interactions between Kisspeptin-10 and prescribed medicines are not systematically studied, which matters most for anyone already on treatment for a long-term condition.
Regulatory note
No UK marketing authorisation as a medicine. Not currently listed on the WADA Prohibited List. The moment a UK seller or commentator makes a therapeutic claim, MHRA can treat the product as an unlicensed medicinal product.
Important: PeptideClear publishes encyclopedia commentary only and does not recommend human use. Speak to a UK-registered prescriber before any medical decision.
Related reading on PeptideClear
Frequently asked questions
What is the evidence level for Kisspeptin-10?
What is the UK regulatory status of Kisspeptin-10?
Has Kisspeptin-10 been tested in human clinical trials?
Where can I read the source literature for Kisspeptin-10?
Last verified 2026-05-22. Editorial commentary, not legal or clinical advice. Citations without a linked identifier can be located through the PubMed search and the journal index.