Humanin is a small mitochondrial-derived peptide, first identified in 2001, that shows cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effects in laboratory and animal studies of Alzheimer's disease, metabolism and ageing. It is a research compound with no completed efficacy trials and is not approved as a medicine anywhere.

Is Humanin approved for medical use?

Humanin is investigational: it is being studied in clinical research and is not an approved medicine. United States (FDA): Not FDA-approved; a research/experimental peptide with no approved therapeutic use. European Union (EMA): No EMA marketing authorisation; not an approved medicine in the EU. Australia (TGA): Not on the ARTG; an unapproved experimental substance.

Is Humanin legal in Australia?

Humanin in Australia (TGA): Not on the ARTG; an unapproved experimental substance.

Is Humanin banned in sport?

Humanin under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code: Not listed by name on the Prohibited List; as a non-approved substance, athletes should verify current status with their anti-doping organisation.

Mitochondrial-derived peptide (24-residue; encoded in the mtDNA 16S rRNA region); cytoprotective

Humanin

Investigationalaka HN, HNG (S14G-humanin analogue)

Humanin was the first recognised mitochondrial-derived peptide, encoded within the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene. It has been investigated preclinically for neuroprotection (particularly against amyloid-beta toxicity), insulin sensitivity and cardioprotection, and more-potent analogues such as HNG have been studied in the laboratory. Human data are essentially observational (for example, circulating humanin levels), there are no completed controlled efficacy trials, and it remains experimental.

Mechanism

In plain terms, humanin appears to act as a survival signal that helps cells resist stress and programmed death. Technically, it is an approximately 24-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA that acts both inside and outside the cell: it can bind and inhibit the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and interact with related proteins, and extracellularly it is reported to signal through a trimeric receptor complex (formyl-peptide-receptor-like-1 and the CNTFR/WSX-1/gp130 receptor) to activate cytoprotective pathways such as STAT3. These mechanisms are established mainly in cell and animal models.

Regulatory Status by Region

United States (FDA)Not FDA-approved; a research/experimental peptide with no approved therapeutic use.
Australia (TGA)Not on the ARTG; an unapproved experimental substance.
European Union (EMA)No EMA marketing authorisation; not an approved medicine in the EU.
WADANot listed by name on the Prohibited List; as a non-approved substance, athletes should verify current status with their anti-doping organisation.

See the full regulatory status matrix

Key Studies

A rescue factor abolishing neuronal cell death by a wide spectrum of familial Alzheimer's disease genes and Abeta (opens in a new tab) (Hashimoto Y, Niikura T, Tajima H, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001;98(11):6336-6341. PMID 11371646)
Humanin peptide suppresses apoptosis by interfering with Bax activation (opens in a new tab) (Guo B, Zhai D, Cabezas E, et al. Nature. 2003;423(6938):456-461. PMID 12732850)

Related Clinical Trials

This Week in Peptide Research: GIP Receptor Debate, Bone-Building Peptides, and New Safety SignalsResearch · Jul 26, 2026

Latest research

A self-assembled peptide forms α-helical nanopores for ultrasensitive biomarker profiling. (opens in a new tab)
Nature nanotechnology · Aug 28, 2026
S14G-humanin (HNG) ameliorates diabetic nephropathy tubular injury by inhibiting Z-DNA/ZBP1-mediated necroptosis. (opens in a new tab)
European journal of pharmacology · Aug 28, 2026
Mitochondrial-derived peptides (MDPs) activated by physical exercise as therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders: A systematic review. (opens in a new tab)
Physiology international · Aug 25, 2026
Emerging regulators of human physiology and disease; sORF-encoded microproteins. (opens in a new tab)
Epigenomics · Aug 10, 2026

See all recent Humanin research

Common Questions

What is Humanin?: Humanin is a small mitochondrial-derived peptide, first identified in 2001, that shows cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic effects in laboratory and animal studies of Alzheimer's disease, metabolism and ageing. It is a research compound with no completed efficacy trials and is not approved as a medicine anywhere.
Is Humanin approved for medical use?: Humanin is investigational: it is being studied in clinical research and is not an approved medicine. United States (FDA): Not FDA-approved; a research/experimental peptide with no approved therapeutic use. European Union (EMA): No EMA marketing authorisation; not an approved medicine in the EU. Australia (TGA): Not on the ARTG; an unapproved experimental substance.
How does Humanin work?: In plain terms, humanin appears to act as a survival signal that helps cells resist stress and programmed death. Technically, it is an approximately 24-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA that acts both inside and outside the cell: it can bind and inhibit the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and interact with related proteins, and extracellularly it is reported to signal through a trimeric receptor complex (formyl-peptide-receptor-like-1 and the CNTFR/WSX-1/gp130 receptor) to activate cytoprotective pathways such as STAT3.
Is Humanin legal in Australia?: Humanin in Australia (TGA): Not on the ARTG; an unapproved experimental substance.
Is Humanin banned in sport?: Humanin under the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code: Not listed by name on the Prohibited List; as a non-approved substance, athletes should verify current status with their anti-doping organisation.