Vialox (Pentapeptide-3V)

Also known as: Pentapeptide-3, Pentapeptide-3V, Vialox peptide

Evidence: Preclinical

PeptideLab is an educational platform for learning about peptides. The information here is for educational and research purposes only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and PeptideLab does not claim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or health condition. Many peptides discussed have not been approved for human use by the FDA or other regulatory bodies. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any health-related decision.

Overview

Synthetic pentapeptide amide (Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-Ala-NH2, pentapeptide-3) marketed as a nicotinic receptor antagonist for expression lines; published data are in silico and cell culture only.

Vialox is Pentapharm's (now DSM's) trade name for pentapeptide-3, Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-Ala-NH2; 'Pentapeptide-3V' is a vendor label, not an INCI name. Reviews describe it as derived from snake venom and as an acetylcholine receptor antagonist, but the only efficacy data are the manufacturer's, and no peer-reviewed study describes its anti-wrinkle effect (Errante et al., 2020). The published research is recent and from one Istanbul group: spectroscopy and docking (Akhan et al., 2025), docking plus a keratinocyte cytotoxicity assay (Akhan et al., 2026), and a cancer cell line screen (Akhan et al., 2026). No human study has been published.

Benefits

Predicted binding to SIRT1, TGF-beta receptor I and MAPK14 (in silico), no keratinocyte cytotoxicity up to 1 mg/mL (in vitro); expression-line reduction is manufacturer data, not peer reviewed

Dosing reference

Research dose: Topical; no published concentration.

Topical only. No peer-reviewed study states a use concentration; the only figures are in supplier literature.

Mechanism

Proposed by the manufacturer: competitive antagonism at the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, described as curare-like (Errante et al., 2020). No peer-reviewed receptor-binding, electrophysiology or muscle study exists. Docking and molecular dynamics predict binding to SIRT1, MMPs, TGF-beta receptor I and MAPK14 (Akhan et al., 2025; Akhan et al., 2026); none of these has been confirmed in cells or tissue.

Evidence

Preclinical: animal or in vitro data only

Docking and molecular dynamics favour SIRT1 binding; no cytotoxicity in HaCaT keratinocytes up to 1 mg/mL (Akhan et al., 2026)
DFT, FTIR and Raman characterisation with docking to TGF-beta receptor I (-8.12 kcal/mol) and MAPK14 (-8.25 kcal/mol) (Akhan et al., 2025)
Cytotoxic to MDA-MB-231 breast and PC3 prostate cancer cells in MTT assays; docking to EGFR and PI3K (Akhan et al., 2026)
Review: no published investigation of anti-wrinkle effect; efficacy data are the manufacturer's (Errante et al., 2020)
Human-trial status: no published human study; all peer-reviewed data are in silico or in vitro from one group

References

Side effects

No cytotoxicity in HaCaT keratinocytes up to 1 mg/mL (Akhan et al., 2026). Cytotoxic to some cancer cell lines in vitro, which the authors frame as anticancer potential (Akhan et al., 2026). No animal or human safety data have been published. Commonly reported (anecdotal): mild irritation.

Storage

Storage: Room temperature, away from light
Lyophilized: 2 years at room temp
Reconstituted: N/A (ready to use)

Pharmacology

Half-life: No published pharmacokinetic data in any species
Bioavailability: Not measured; in silico ADME only (Akhan et al., 2026). Penetration to muscle is unproven
Molecular weight: 495.58 Da
Sequence: Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-Ala-[NH2]