Biohacking Kompakt

Peptide & Experimental

LZ1

Synthetic antimicrobial peptide (15 amino acids), derived from snake cathelicidin, research substance · LZ1 peptide, LZ-1, VKRWKKWWRKWKKWV-NH2

LZ1 is a short lab-made defense peptide that is supposed to act against acne bacteria. In cell culture and in mice it did so, and it dampened inflammation. It has never been tested in humans.

In short

LZ1 is a synthetic peptide of 15 amino acids that a Chinese research group described in 2013 and later classified as a derivative of a defense peptide from snake venom. In the test tube it inhibited acne bacteria at very low concentrations; in a mouse model an LZ1 gel reduced bacteria and inflammation in the ear. The same group found effects against malaria parasites and pancreatic cancer, likewise only in cell culture and mice. An independent laboratory test confirmed its tolerability in skin cells but found a markedly weaker effect against acne bacteria. There is no study in humans, not even a registered one.

What LZ1 is and how it works

LZ1 has the sequence VKRWKKWWRKWKKWV-NH2. The first description from 2013 calls it a designed peptide; later work by the same group derives it from a cathelicidin from snake venom. Cathelicidins are defense peptides that animals and humans produce themselves; the human counterpart is LL-37. An independent research group describes LZ1 as a fusion of known peptide families. In all sources, however, the name LZ1 refers to the same sequence.

In the test tube, LZ1 killed acne bacteria as well as Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus and inhibited the release of the inflammatory messengers TNF-α and IL-1β. In malaria-infected red blood cells it inhibited pyruvate kinase and thus the parasite’s energy production. In pancreatic cancer cells it bound to the surface protein nucleolin and triggered autophagy-dependent cell death via AMPK. All of these findings come from cell culture and mouse models.

What is well supported

What is supported is the effect in the laboratory. In the first description, LZ1 inhibited three strains of the acne bacterium at 0.6 µg/ml, according to the authors a four times lower concentration than the acne antibiotic clindamycin. It barely harmed human keratinocytes, barely lysed red blood cells and remained stable in human plasma. In the mouse model, an LZ1 gel lowered bacterial counts, ear swelling and inflammatory cells.

In 2023, an independent research group confirmed that LZ1 does not lyse red blood cells and does not harm keratinocytes up to 200 µg/ml.

What the studies show

Acne in the lab and in the mouse ear, Zhang 2013

The authors compared LZ1 with clindamycin against acne bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus. Mice were injected with acne bacteria in the ear, after which a gel containing LZ1, clindamycin or no active substance was applied. LZ1 reduced bacterial counts, swelling and inflammatory cells and lowered TNF-α and IL-1β. The study covered a few days, in mice only.

Independent laboratory comparison, Ramata-Stunda 2023

The group compared LZ1 with ten other antimicrobial peptides. Against acne bacteria, the minimum inhibitory concentration of LZ1 was 8 µg/ml, markedly higher than in the first description; against S. aureus it matched. In keratinocytes LZ1 was harmless up to 200 µg/ml; in mouse connective tissue cells it was damaging from 62.5 µg/ml. No hemolysis occurred.

Malaria and pancreatic cancer, 2019

LZ1 was active against malaria parasites in cell culture and lowered the parasite load in infected mice in a dose- and time-dependent manner (Fang 2019). In mice with pancreatic cancer it slowed tumor growth and prolonged survival (Xu 2019). Both are basic research with no bearing on use in acne.

Where the data stop

  • No human has been treated in a study. There is neither a published human study nor an entry on ClinicalTrials.gov (search of October 5, 2026). Whether LZ1 works against acne on human skin is unknown.
  • The potency is disputed. The only independent re-test found an inhibitory concentration against acne bacteria more than ten times higher than in the first description.
  • Almost everything from one research group. The acne, malaria and cancer data come from the same group.
  • No route of use described. What has been studied are laboratory concentrations and a gel on the mouse ear. For injections there are no data, not even from animal experiments on acne.

Status, approval and legal

LZ1 is not approved as a medicine anywhere, and no clinical development is known. In Germany it is not listed as prescription-only; it is offered as a research chemical. As an unapproved, pharmacologically active substance, LZ1 falls under S0 of the 2026 WADA list and is banned in sport at all times.

Safety

There are no data on safety in humans. In the laboratory, LZ1 did not lyse red blood cells and barely harmed keratinocytes; in mouse connective tissue cells it was damaging at higher concentrations. In cancer cells it triggers cell death via nucleolin; how it affects healthy cells with longer use has not been studied. Data on skin irritation, allergies and long-term use are lacking. Products from the gray market are untested for purity, content and sterility.

BK-Score Not studied in humans

Human evidence0
Mechanism3
Safety data1
Hype gap2
Track record of use1

Evidence 0, because there is no study in humans: all work on LZ1 comes from test tubes and mouse models (Zhang 2013, Fang 2019, Xu 2019, Ramata-Stunda 2023), and ClinicalTrials.gov lists no study (search of October 5, 2026). Mechanism 3, because the effect against acne bacteria, the inhibition of TNF-α and IL-1β and a pathway via nucleolin and AMPK in cancer cells have been measured in the laboratory, but the findings almost all come from one research group and an independent test found a markedly weaker effect against acne bacteria (8 instead of below 1 µg/ml). Safety 1, because only cell culture data on skin, connective tissue and red blood cells and short mouse experiments are available. Hype 2, because LZ1 is traded as an acne peptide although no human has been treated with it in a study. Use 1: no clinical development, only research and gray-market products. Direction open.

The score rates the state of knowledge, not the substance. “Safety data 9” means well studied – not harmless. “Track record of use 9” means used long and widely – that is not proof of efficacy.
Subjective assessment by Biohacking Kompakt based on published scoring rules – not a scientific rating and not a medical recommendation. Rules and all ratings (German)

Frequently asked questions about LZ1

What is LZ1?

LZ1 is a lab-made peptide of 15 amino acids with the sequence VKRWKKWWRKWKKWV-NH2. It belongs to the antimicrobial peptides and is derived by its discoverers from a defense peptide from snake venom.

Does LZ1 help against acne?

That has not been studied in humans. In the test tube LZ1 inhibited acne bacteria, and in mice an LZ1 gel reduced bacteria and inflammation in the ear. An independent laboratory test found a markedly weaker effect against acne bacteria than the first description.

Are there studies in humans?

No. There is no published human study and no entry in the trial registry ClinicalTrials.gov.

Is LZ1 safe?

That is unknown. In cell culture LZ1 did not lyse red blood cells and barely harmed skin cells; data on skin irritation, allergies and long-term use in humans are lacking.

Is LZ1 legal?

LZ1 is not approved as a medicine anywhere and is sold as a research chemical. In sport, as an unapproved substance under S0 of the 2026 WADA list, it is banned at all times.

Related

Sources

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Information only, not medical advice and not a usage or dosage recommendation. Prescription-only and unapproved substances belong in the hands of a physician. Last updated: 2026-10-05.