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LL-37

Antimicrobial peptide. LL-37 is not FDA approved for any use.

Also called:cathelicidin
Medically reviewed by Juan Pablo Frías, MD · · DisclosureUpdated Strongest evidence: Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4
StatusOff FDA Category 2 (Apr 2026)Removed from FDA Category 2 on 15 Apr 2026. WADA status unclearFull legal history

Key facts

How we verify
Class
Antimicrobial peptide
Also called
cathelicidin
Half-life
Not found
No published half-life found (PubMed search, 2 Oct 2026)
FDA status
Not approved
Off Category 2, 15 Apr 2026
PCAC vote
Not reviewed
not on the Jul 2026 PCAC agenda
WADA
Unclear
Not named on the 2026 list
Everything on LL-37

LL-37 guides

DosageDoses used in published studies, with the source for each.Side effectsWhat labels and studies report, and what is unknown.

Evidence at a glance

Human and animal counts are PubMed records from our evidence ledger (search counts, not studies we reviewed). The grade is the strongest design among the studies we summarised for that goal: a human randomized trial outweighs any number of animal studies.

LL-37: studies by condition
ConditionHuman studiesAnimal studiesStudies we summarisedEvidence grade
Any condition (no goal ledger yet)Not in our ledgerNot in our ledger7Human RCT evidence, 4 of 4Archives of dermatological research 2023, PMID 37480520

Grades follow our evidence scale. Summarised studies come from our evidence file, each quote checked against the abstract or label.

Common questions

Is LL-37 FDA approved?

No. LL-37 is not FDA approved for any use. The FDA removed it from Category 2 on 15 Apr 2026.

Sources

  1. 1Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks (Category 2; 'nominated but withdrawn' table, content current as of 22 Apr 2026)U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  2. 2US search volume and year-over-year trend, Google Keyword Planner export (Jun–Aug 2026 vs 2025)Peptigraph research · 2026peptigraph.com/methodology/Accessed 1 Oct 2026
  3. 3World Anti-Doping Code International Standard Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency · 2026wada-ama.orgAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  4. 4United States: No FDA-approved product found: Drugs@FDA (openFDA) search for active ingredient "ll-37" returned no matches on 2 Oct 2026.U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026api.fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  5. 5US compounding: LL-37 was removed from FDA's 503A category 2 after the nominator withdrew; FDA announced a PCAC consultation before the end of February 2027.U.S. Food and Drug Administration · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  6. 6Efficacy of LL-37 cream in enhancing healing of diabetic foot ulcer: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.Archives of dermatological research · 2023PMID 37480520Accessed 2 Oct 2026
  7. 7PubMed search: "LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab] (3020 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  8. 8PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR clinical trial[pt] OR patients[tiab]) (730 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  9. 9PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (ulcer*[tiab] OR wound[tiab]) (261 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  10. 10PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (venous[tiab] AND ulcer*[tiab]) (7 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  11. 11PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (healed[tiab] OR healing[tiab]) AND (randomized[tiab] OR placebo[tiab]) (4 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  12. 12PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (half-life[tiab] OR pharmacokinetic*[tiab] OR stability[tiab]) (136 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  13. 13PubMed search: ("LL-37"[tiab] OR LL37[tiab]) AND (infection[tiab] OR antimicrobial[tiab] OR biofilm[tiab]) AND (mice[tiab] OR rat[tiab] OR murine[tiab]) (386 results)PubMed · 2026pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026
  14. 14FDA gives notice that 12 peptides will be removed from Category 2 (nominations withdrawn)FDA · 2026fda.govAccessed 2 Oct 2026

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