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For research use only. Not for human or veterinary use. Not a drug, food, or dietary supplement.
AMIRAVOResearch Library
Hormonal · Dosing reference

Apelin-13 dosage

What the human evidence does and does not show, how long studies ran, and the arithmetic for working with vials.

Not approved — research use onlyBLimited human dataNone established
Full research pageCycle-length evidenceComparePrefer Amiravo on Google
Regulatory status
Not approved — research use only
Human amounts
None established in humans
Route studied
—
Frequency
Not established
Half-life
Not located as a numeric value in the sources reviewed. Rapid plasma clearance is described as a limitation that motivates delivery work such as microneedle patches 5.
Evidence grade
Grade B · Limited human data
Vial sizes on the market
Not recorded
Other forms seen
—

What Apelin-13 is

Apelin-13 is a 13-residue fragment of the endogenous apelin peptide and an agonist at the APJ (apelin) receptor; short randomized human infusion studies report vasodilatation, increased cardiac output and an insulin-sensitising effect, while most disease-level evidence is from cells and rodents and no approved use exists.

Apelin-13 acts on APJ, a G protein-coupled receptor, as an agonist 6. The receptor and its ligand are expressed in vasculature, heart, kidney, adipose tissue and brain, which is why the reported effects span several organ systems 1,2. Cardiovascular actions in people In human studies, intrabrachial (Pyr1)apelin-13 produced forearm vasodilatation in both patients with heart failure and controls; an intracoronary… How it works →

Key evidence

  • Japp et al., Circulation · 2010 · Humans (18 patients with chronic heart failure, 6 undergoing coronary angiography, 26 healthy volunteers)
    Intrabrachial (Pyr1)apelin-13 caused forearm vasodilatation in patients and controls and was not attenuated in heart failure, unlike acetylcholine; systemic infusion increased cardiac index and lowered mean arterial pressure and peripheral vascular resistance, raising heart rate only in controls. 1
  • Gourdy et al., Diabetes Obes Metab · 2018 · Humans (16 healthy overweight men)
    The higher level tested significantly improved insulin sensitivity by glucose infusion rate, the lower level showed a borderline change, and no side effects were identified on cardiovascular monitoring and safety reports. 2
  • Tatemoto et al., Biochem Biophys Res Commun · 1998 · Laboratory (bovine stomach extracts, APJ-expressing cells)
    Isolated apelin as the endogenous APJ receptor ligand from a 77-residue preproprotein, with synthetic C-terminal fragments activating APJ-expressing cells. 6
All studies on the research page

What the human evidence shows

No approved or established human dose

Human studies of Apelin-13 are listed below by design, population and duration. None was designed or powered to establish an amount, and Amiravo does not reproduce their amounts for a compound approved nowhere.

  • Series of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled intrabrachial, intracoronary and systemic infusion studies with haemodynamic measurement; Patients with NYHA class II to III chronic heart failure, patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography, and healthy volunteers; 50 participants; duration Acute study visits (infusion and measurement sessions). 1
  • Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study with two hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamps per volunteer, in two sequential level groups of 8; Healthy overweight men; 16 participants; duration Two clamp sessions per volunteer, each with a 2-hour intravenous administration period. 2
  • Phase 1 interventional study of apelin versus placebo on insulin sensitivity, listed as completed; Volunteers with type 2 diabetes (University Hospital, Toulouse); 9 participants; duration Not stated in the registry record reviewed. 3

How long did human studies run?

No human study durations are recorded for Apelin-13.

Cycle-length evidence for Apelin-13

Supplies and handling

  • Lyophilized vial
    Sealed vial with the freeze-dried cake. Check the label, lot and the certificate of analysis before opening.
  • Sterile diluent
    The diluent named on the product documentation. Bacteriostatic water contains benzyl alcohol; sterile water does not.
  • Graduated syringes
    Sized to the volume being measured. U-100 insulin syringes are graduated in units where 100 units = 1 mL.
  • Alcohol prep pads
    For wiping vial stoppers before each puncture.
  • Nitrile gloves
    Clean gloves for aseptic handling.
  • Sharps container
    Puncture-resistant container for used needles.
Step-by-step reconstitution guideStorage and transport accessories

Storage

General research-context handling only. Lyophilised peptides of this type are generally kept dry, cool and protected from light and moisture, and aqueous solutions of a rapidly cleared, protease-sensitive peptide are treated as short-lived. Defer to supplier documentation for the specific lot. No temperatures or preparation steps are given here.

  • Lyophilized (unmixed) vials: typically stored cold and dry, away from light, as the documentation directs. Many are stable longer frozen.
  • Reconstituted vials: typically refrigerated (about 2–8 °C), protected from light and not frozen.
  • Bacteriostatic water contains benzyl alcohol, which inhibits bacterial growth in multi-use vials; sterile water has no preservative.

Handling mistakes and troubleshooting

Added the wrong volume of diluent
The concentration changes, not the amount of compound in the vial. Recalculate with the volume actually added and relabel the vial.
Shook the vial and it foamed
Let it settle in the refrigerator. Foam is a sign of agitation; some peptides aggregate when shaken. Note it on the label.
The solution is cloudy or has particles
Do not use it. Cloudiness can indicate incomplete dissolution, contamination or degradation. Record the lot and contact the supplier with the certificate of analysis.
The powder cake looks melted or shrunken before reconstitution
This can indicate the vial was exposed to heat or moisture. Record the lot and condition on arrival.
Liquid sprayed back when the needle was removed
Pressure built up in the vial. Withdraw a small volume of air while adding diluent to keep pressure neutral.

Regulatory status

Status
Not approved for any use. An openFDA Drugs@FDA query for apelin returned no application record on 24 October 2026 13, and apelin does not appear in any of the three categories of FDA's 503A bulk drug substances list as updated May 14, 2026 14. Human work consists of short mechanistic infusion studies, not treatment trials with clinical endpoints 1,2,3.
United States (FDA)
Not approved for any use. An openFDA Drugs@FDA query for apelin returned no application record on 24 October 2026 13, and apelin does not appear in any of the three categories of FDA's 503A bulk drug substances list as updated May 14, 2026 14.
Sport (WADA)
Not named individually in the sources reviewed; S0 covers substances without governmental approval for human therapeutic use, prohibited at all times 15.

Status varies by country and changes over time. How we describe regulatory status.

Apelin-13 compared with related compounds

CompoundStatusEvidenceHuman amountsHalf-life
Apelin-13Not approved — research use onlyBNone establishedNot located as a numeric value in the so
CerebrolysinApproved outside the USAEx-US labelNot directly measurable (peptide mixture
PEANot approved — research use onlyANone established—
VesugenNot approved — research use onlyCNone established—
Kisspeptin-54Not approved — research use onlyBNone establishedAbout 28 minutes (intravenous, healthy m
hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)FDA-approvedAFDA labelAbout 29 hours (recombinant hCG, subcuta

Frequently asked questions

What doses of Apelin-13 have been studied in humans?
None that establish an amount. Apelin-13 is not approved anywhere and the human studies that exist are small and were not designed to find a dose. Amiravo does not publish community or vendor figures.
Is there an established Apelin-13 cycle length?
No. We found no human studies that report treatment duration for Apelin-13.
How much bacteriostatic water should be added to a Apelin-13 vial?
There is no compound-specific volume. The diluent volume only sets the concentration: concentration = mass in the vial ÷ volume added (for example, 10 mg in 2 mL gives 5 mg/mL). The calculator on this page shows the arithmetic for any combination.
How many units is a given amount on an insulin syringe?
On a U-100 syringe, 100 units = 1 mL. Units for an amount = amount ÷ (concentration per unit). The calculator converts any amount you enter at the concentration you choose; a unit is a volume mark, not an amount of compound.
What is the half-life of Apelin-13?
Not located as a numeric value in the sources reviewed. Rapid plasma clearance is described as a limitation that motivates delivery work such as microneedle patches 5.
Is Apelin-13 FDA-approved?
Not approved — research use only. Not approved for any use. An openFDA Drugs@FDA query for apelin returned no application record on 24 October 2026 13, and apelin does not appear in any of the three categories of FDA's 503A bulk drug substances list as updated May 14, 2026 14. Human work consists of short mechanistic infusion studies, not treatment trials with clinical endpoints 1,2,3.

References

  1. Acute cardiovascular effects of apelin in humans: potential role in patients with chronic heart failure Circulation. 2010
  2. Apelin administration improves insulin sensitivity in overweight men during hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp Diabetes Obes Metab. 2018
  3. Effect of Apelin on Insulin Sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetic Volunteers (APELINS-2, NCT02724566) ClinicalTrials.gov. 2026
  4. Apelin-13 ameliorates hypoxic-ischemic brain damage and improves neurological function in neonatal rats by attenuating neuroinflammation via AMPK activation Int Immunopharmacol. 2026
  5. Microneedle patch-based delivery of Pyr-Apelin-13 reverses functional and structural deficits in age-related sarcopenia Sci Rep. 2026
  6. Isolation and characterization of a novel endogenous peptide ligand for the human APJ receptor Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998
  7. Design, characterization, and first-in-human study of the vascular actions of a novel biased apelin receptor agonist Hypertension. 2015
  8. Apelin-13 attenuates doxorubicin-induced myocardial injury via the PI3K/AKT and ERK/MAPK signaling pathways Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2026
  9. Apelin-13 Pretreatment Attenuates Age-Associated Renal Fibrotic Remodeling Following I/R Injury Biomedicines. 2026
  10. Apelin-13 drives VSMC proliferation and atherosclerosis through REEP5-dependent disruption of ER-mitochondria coupling and glycolytic shift Life Sci. 2026
  11. Retraction notice to "Apelin-13 impedes foam cell formation by activating Class III PI3K/Beclin-1-mediated autophagic pathway" Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2026
  12. Apelin-13 (CID 25078060) PubChem. 2026
  13. Drugs@FDA application data queried through openFDA for apelin (no matching application record returned on 24 October 2026) openFDA / Drugs@FDA. 2026
  14. Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (updated May 14, 2026); no entry for apelin in any of the three categories FDA. 2026
  15. International Standard: Prohibited List 2026 World Anti-Doping Agency. 2026

Last reviewed October 24, 2026 by the Amiravo editorial team. Editorial policy · Report an error