PE-22-28
Spadin-derived antidepressant candidate. Animal models only.
What it is
A shortened analogue of spadin, studied as a TREK-1 channel blocker.
What it does
TREK-1 blockade has been associated with antidepressant-like effects in rodent models.
Does it work?
Interesting mechanism, entirely preclinical. Not a substitute for evidence-based mental health treatment.
Claims vs data
Each marketing claim, tagged by what the evidence actually supports.
| Antidepressant-like effects in rodents | animal data only |
| A validated treatment for depression | overreach |
Reference figures
Quoted from published reference material. These are not Peptuity recommendations.
The evidence, counted
Live counts from Europe PMC and ClinicalTrials.gov.
7 publications indexed, but only 1 randomised controlled trials and 0 registered interventional studies. Human evidence exists but is thin.
query: "PE-22-28" · checked 2026-08-07
Most-cited literature
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Role of TREK-1 in Health and Disease, Focus on the Central Nervous System
Djillani A, Mazella J, Heurteaux C, Borsotto M. · Front Pharmacol 2019 · 86 citations
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Shortened Spadin Analogs Display Better TREK-1 Inhibition, In Vivo Stability and Antidepressant Activity
Djillani A, Pietri M, Moreno S, Heurteaux C, Mazella J, Borsotto M. · Front Pharmacol 2017 · 26 citations
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Enabling pregnant women and their physicians to make informed medication decisions using artificial intelligence
Davidson L, Boland MR. · J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn 2020 · 19 citations
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Sex-specific and age-related seasonal variations regarding incidence and in-hospital mortality of pulmonary embolism in Germany
Keller K, Hobohm L, Münzel T, Konstantinides SV, Lankeit M. · ERJ Open Res 2020 · 15 citations
Regulatory status
Formal, dated regulatory actions.
WADA — Prohibited List 2026
Prohibited in sport — WADA S0 (substance without any health-authority approval)
Common questions
What is the TREK-1 mechanism?
TREK-1 is a potassium channel; blocking it produced antidepressant-like effects in rodents. PE-22-28 is a shortened analogue of spadin, a natural blocker.
Is a novel mechanism a reason to self-experiment?
No. Novelty means less accumulated safety knowledge, not more promise. Everything known about this compound is preclinical.
What should someone with depression do instead?
See a clinician. Depression has effective, evidence-based treatments; a rodent-stage research peptide is not a substitute for any of them.