Comparison
FOXO4-DRI vs. Hexarelin
Two peptides side-by-side — identity, evidence base, legal status and known adverse events.
Identity
Category
Research other
Growth
CAS no.
2074706-72-8
140703-51-1
Molecular weight
3735 g/mol
887.05 g/mol
Half-life
0.5 h
0.9 h
Sequence
D-Retro-Inverso-Variante eines FOXO4-Peptid-Fragments (LTLRKEPASEIAQSILEAYSQNGWANRRSGGKR — D-Aminosäuren in umgekehrter Sequenz)His-D-2-methyl-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2Mechanism of action
FOXO4-DRI
FOXO4-DRI is the D-retro-inverso variant of a peptide fragment of the FOXO4 transcription factor. In senescent cells, FOXO4 is bound to p53, which suppresses p53-mediated apoptosis — the cells survive in a secreting 'zombie-like' state (senescence-associated secretory phenotype, SASP). The DRI peptide disrupts this FOXO4-p53 binding, freeing p53, and the senescent cell initiates apoptosis. Healthy cells are largely unaffected because p53 is not held back by FOXO4 in them. This selectivity was the central finding of the original 2017 publication.
Hexarelin
Hexarelin is a synthetic analog of the GHRP-6 family binding both the GH secretagogue receptor (GHSR-1a) and CD36. GHSR activation in the pituitary releases pulsatile growth hormone. Via CD36 in endothelium and myocardium, cardioprotective effects have been described in animal studies.
Evidence base
Highest evidence
Animal model
Human trial
Studies
3
4
of which in humans
0
3
Effects recorded
3
3
Open conflicts
1
0
Documented adverse events
1
1