PE-22-28 alternatives.

10 compounds compared to PE-22-28, ranked by published evidence tier and regulatory status, not by what's marketed hardest.

Why people look for an alternative

PE-22-28 is a seven-residue fragment of spadin, developed to block the TREK-1 potassium channel and studied as a fast-acting antidepressant candidate in rodents. Anyone searching for an alternative has usually hit the wall in its file: it is a preclinical research compound with no human data, no approval, and no approved medical use. There is no peptide in this mechanism class with human evidence behind it, so a like-for-like substitute does not exist. What the list below offers is other neuropeptides sharing a category, most of them equally untested in humans. For an actual treatment decision the relevant alternatives are approved medicines, which is a conversation for a clinician.

What you're comparing against
PE-22-28
F tier · 24/100Research / preclinical

PE-22-28 is a synthetic seven-residue peptide corresponding to residues 22 to 28 of spadin, itself a fragment derived from the sortilin propeptide (also called neurotensin receptor-3).

Ranked by evidence · strongest first
  1. 01
    Oxytocin
    S tierFDA-approved
    Pitocin

    Acts through the central neuromodulation pathway, like PE-22-28. FDA-approved.

  2. 02
    Selank
    D tierResearch / preclinical

    Acts through the central neuromodulation pathway, like PE-22-28. Research / preclinical.

  3. 03
    Semax
    D tierResearch / preclinical

    Acts through the central neuromodulation pathway, like PE-22-28. Research / preclinical.

  4. 04
    N-Acetyl Semax Amidate
    F tierResearch / preclinical

    Acts through the central neuromodulation pathway, like PE-22-28. Research / preclinical.

  5. 05
    DSIP
    F tierResearch / preclinical
    delta sleep-inducing peptide

    Acts through the central neuromodulation pathway, like PE-22-28. Research / preclinical.

  6. 06
    Cerebrolysin
    C tierResearch / preclinical
    porcine brain peptide preparation

    Same category: cognition & mood. Research / preclinical.

  7. 07
    Cortexin
    D tierResearch / preclinical
    cattle brain polypeptides

    Same category: cognition & mood. Research / preclinical.

  8. 08
    P21
    F tierResearch / preclinical
    P021 · CNTF-derived peptide mimetic

    Same category: cognition & mood. Research / preclinical.

  9. 09
    Dihexa
    F tierResearch / preclinical

    Same category: cognition & mood. Research / preclinical.

  10. 10
    Pinealon
    F tierResearch / preclinical

    Same category: cognition & mood. Research / preclinical.

How this list is built

An “alternative” here means a compound that shares PE-22-28's mechanism pathway or sits in the same category, not a marketing substitute. Each is ordered by PepCue's evidence tier (a weighted 0–100 score across human data, safety, replication and regulatory clarity), then by whether it's actually approved. This is a research reference, not medical or purchasing advice: an alternative sitting higher on evidence does not mean it's right, safe, or legal for any given use. Reviewed June 1, 2026.

Comparing options with your provider?

PepCue keeps every compound, dose and lab in one private, provider-ready timeline, whichever one you land on.

Educational and research reference only. Not medical advice, diagnosis, or dosing guidance. Flag an error on this page
Compounds