Sleep Peptide Research

DSIP: Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide Research Data

A conservative review of DSIP (emideltide): its 1977 discovery, the unresolved biology, the positive, null and contradictory sleep studies, the safety gaps, and the July 2026 FDA vote.

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Fact-checked · Reviewed by Remy Research Editorial Board
Update History ▾
October 6, 2026: Initial publication, built from a source-by-source check of the DSIP literature, FDA's 2026 emideltide briefing and the July 2026 advisory-committee vote. It separates animal and human evidence and gives the null and failed replications equal weight.
Research-use-only framing applied throughout in line with Remy editorial standards.
TL;DR — Research Summary

DSIP is a nine-amino-acid peptide discovered in 1977 as a possible sleep factor, and five decades later its sleep effect is still unproven and its biology unresolved. The original Basel rabbit work reported more delta-wave sleep, and small 1980s human studies from the same group reported better sleep.[1][2] Independent double-blind insomnia trials found little or no clinically meaningful benefit, a rat replication failed, and no gene, precursor or receptor for DSIP has ever been identified.[3][4][5][6]

In July 2026 FDA's advisory committee voted 6–7 against adding DSIP, under its name emideltide, to the US compounding list — the only peptide that panel rejected.[7] Material supplied by Remy Research is for in-vitro laboratory research only — not for human or veterinary use.

Compliance note: this page is a research review, not a treatment guide. It does not provide human-use dosing, therapeutic recommendations, or any clinical-use instructions, and should be read in the same non-therapeutic frame required across Remy's research content.

What Is DSIP?

DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide) is a nonapeptide with the sequence Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu (WAGGDASGE). PubChem lists it as C35H48N10O15, with a molecular weight of about 848.8 g/mol, CAS number 62568-57-4, and PubChem CID 68816.[8] Its international nonproprietary name, proposed by WHO in 1993, is emideltide.[9]

FDA treats the free base and the acetate salt as different substances.[10] Purity matters for this peptide in a specific way: the discovery group reported that only the α-aspartyl form was highly active, not its β-aspartyl isomer, a common synthesis by-product.[11]

Origin: Basel, 1977

The work began in the 1960s, when Monnier and Hösli found that dialysed blood from rabbits kept asleep by brain stimulation produced sleep when injected into other rabbits.[12] In 1977 the Schoenenberger–Monnier group in Basel characterised the responsible nonapeptide: infused into the brain ventricles of rabbits, synthetic DSIP enhanced delta and spindle EEG activity, while related fragments did not.[1]

Whether DSIP is made in the body remains unresolved. DSIP-like material has been reported in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, but no gene or precursor has been found, and a brain protein picked up by anti-DSIP antibodies turned out to be unrelated in sequence.[6][13] In the body it lasts minutes: intravenous half-lives in animals were about two to four minutes, and blood peptidases break it down rapidly.[14][15]

Proposed Mechanisms and the Evidence Behind Each

FDA's 2026 review states that DSIP's primary mechanisms of action and pharmacokinetic profile are unknown.[10] The proposed pathways rest on cell and animal work:

DSIP — Proposed Mechanisms and Evidence
Proposed mechanism What was reported Evidence type
Opioid system Did not bind opioid receptors but triggered Met-enkephalin release from rat brainstem slices In vitro, animal
Glutamate, GABA Potentiated GABA-activated currents and blocked NMDA-activated potentiation in rat neurons In vitro
Stress hormones One human study found lower ACTH after DSIP; another found no effect on stimulated ACTH or cortisol Human (conflicting)
A receptor Putative binding sites were reported in the 1980s, but no receptor has been identified Not established

The opioid link comes mainly from one Japanese group, and the glutamate and GABA findings from a small Russian network.[16][17] The human endocrine studies contradict each other.[18][19] Dose-response curves reported in animals were bell-shaped, and effects differed by species, which complicates every replication attempt.[20]

The Sleep Evidence: Positive, Null and Contradictory

1. Animal Studies

After the original rabbit findings, a 1980 rat study found no significant rise in sleep or delta activity and concluded that DSIP does not qualify as a specific sleep-promoting substance.[5] Neutralising DSIP with an antiserum left rat sleep unchanged in one study, but blocked the rebound in slow-wave sleep after deprivation in another.[21][22]

2. The Early Human Studies

In 1981 the discovery group reported longer sleep after intravenous DSIP in six healthy volunteers and less interrupted sleep in six people with insomnia.[2][23] A 1987 study of 14 people with chronic insomnia reported substantial improvement, but FDA notes it had no concurrent placebo group.[24][10]

3. The Independent Trials

Two independent double-blind trials did not confirm the benefit. A 1987 crossover study in six people with insomnia found no significant differences from placebo, and a 1992 parallel-group study in 16 found only weak effects, partly explained by a change in the placebo group, and concluded DSIP was not likely to be of major therapeutic benefit.[3][4] The only later randomised human study, in 2009, found DSIP lightened anaesthetic depth and reduced delta activity — the opposite of the hypothesis.[25]

4. Withdrawal Studies

Open, uncontrolled studies in the 1980s and 1990s reported improvement in alcohol and opiate withdrawal, but they lacked control groups, and in a 1998 opioid study only two of seven patients completed the schedule.[26][27]

In 2026 FDA described the intravenous insomnia evidence as "inconclusive and at best preliminary".[10] No DSIP trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, and only 30 of 407 PubMed records date from 2010 onward.[28][29]

What Has Been Published on Safety

Regulatory Status in 2026

Where DSIP stands as of October 6, 2026.
  • United States. No FDA-approved drug contains emideltide. FDA placed it in Category 2 ("may present significant safety risks") in September 2023; by April 2026 its nominations had been withdrawn.[31] FDA reviewed it anyway, its staff proposed against listing, and on July 24, 2026 the advisory committee voted 6–7, with one abstention, against adding it to the 503A Bulks List.[32][7]
  • Russia. A DSIP-based product, Deltaran, is registered as a non-prescription intranasal preparation for stress-related conditions and alcohol withdrawal.[33]
  • European Union and UAE. No EU-authorised product was found, and no UAE registration was found.
  • Sport. DSIP is not named on WADA's 2026 or 2027 Prohibited List. WADA warns that unnamed peptides may still be prohibited, and the Russian registration makes the S0 question unclear; athletes should ask their anti-doping organisation.[34]

What the DSIP Literature Does Not Yet Give You

These gaps are not arguments against studying DSIP. They are arguments against overselling it.

Where DSIP Fits in an RUO Research Catalog

For research use, DSIP belongs with the neuropeptide research tools: a defined nonapeptide for cell-culture and animal-model work on sleep-EEG, opioid and glutamate signalling. Remy Research lists the Genovare DSIP 50mg AQ pen, supplied for in-vitro laboratory research only. It is not framed for human use, veterinary use or treatment.

For researchers reading this page as a starting point, the most useful adjacent references on this site are the Epitalon evidence review, the peptide primer, the COA and HPLC purity guide, and the Dubai legality brief.

Our Research Standards

This article prioritizes primary literature and FDA's 2026 briefing documents, and gives null results and failed replications the same weight as positive ones. Where the human record is thin, we say so directly. No therapeutic, human-use, or veterinary-use claim is made here. Read our editorial policy →

RP
Editorial Review

Editorial Board, Remy Research

The Remy Research Editorial Board reviews Remy's peptide research library, with a focus on analytical verification, clinical-trial interpretation, and compliance-safe scientific communication.

About the editorial team →

DSIP Research FAQ

What is DSIP, and is it the same as emideltide?

DSIP is a nine-amino-acid peptide (Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu) isolated in 1977 by a Basel group from the blood of rabbits kept asleep by brain stimulation. Emideltide is its WHO international nonproprietary name, proposed in 1993.[1][9]

Is DSIP made naturally in the body?

That is unresolved. DSIP-like material has been reported in blood and cerebrospinal fluid, but no gene or precursor has been found, and a brain protein detected by anti-DSIP antibodies proved unrelated in sequence.[6][13]

Does research show DSIP improves sleep?

The evidence is inconsistent and dated. Small 1980s studies from the discovery group reported better sleep, but independent double-blind trials found little or no clinically meaningful benefit, and a rat replication failed. In 2026 FDA called the insomnia evidence inconclusive and at best preliminary.[2][3][4][10]

Is DSIP FDA-approved, or can US pharmacies compound it?

No. No FDA-approved drug contains emideltide, it is not on the 503A Bulks List, and on July 24, 2026 FDA's advisory committee voted 6–7 against adding it. No proposed rule has been published.[10][7]

Is DSIP approved anywhere?

Russia registers a DSIP-based product, Deltaran, as a non-prescription intranasal preparation for stress-related conditions and alcohol withdrawal. No EU-authorised product or UAE registration was found.[33]

Is DSIP banned by WADA?

It is not named on the 2026 or 2027 List. WADA warns that unnamed peptides may still be prohibited, and because a Russian registration appears to exist, how the S0 class applies is unclear. Athletes should ask their anti-doping organisation.[34]

How long does DSIP last in the body?

Minutes. Intravenous half-lives in animals were about two to four minutes, and DSIP is rapidly broken down by blood peptidases.[14][15]

What side effects have DSIP studies reported?

Short intravenous studies mostly described DSIP as well tolerated, with headache, warmth, dry mouth and drowsiness noted; one open withdrawal study reported three serious events, including low blood pressure. Long-term, subcutaneous and intranasal human safety have never been studied.[10][26]

Sources

  1. Schoenenberger GA, Monnier M. Characterization of a delta-electroencephalogram (-sleep)-inducing peptide. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1977;74(3):1282-1286. doi: 10.1073/pnas.74.3.1282 · PMID: 265572 ↩
  2. Schneider-Helmert D, Gnirss F, Monnier M, et al. Acute and delayed effects of DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide) on human sleep behavior. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol. 1981;19(8):341-345. PMID: 6895513 ↩
  3. Monti JM, Debellis J, Alterwain P, et al. Study of delta sleep-inducing peptide efficacy in improving sleep on short-term administration to chronic insomniacs. Int J Clin Pharmacol Res. 1987;7(2):105-110. PMID: 3583493 ↩
  4. Bes F, Hofman W, Schuur J, Van Boxtel C. Effects of delta sleep-inducing peptide on sleep of chronic insomniac patients. A double-blind study. Neuropsychobiology. 1992;26(4):193-197. doi: 10.1159/000118919 · PMID: 1299794 ↩
  5. Tobler I, Borbély AA. Effect of delta sleep inducing peptide (DSIP) and arginine vasotocin (AVT) on sleep and motor activity in the rat. Waking Sleeping. 1980;4(2):139-153. PMID: 7405185 ↩
  6. Kovalzon VM, Strekalova TV. Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): a still unresolved riddle. J Neurochem. 2006;97(2):303-309. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2006.03693.x · PMID: 16539679 ↩
  7. Fierce Pharma. Peptide advisory committee day 2: emideltide voted down in the panel's first peptide pushback, July 24, 2026. fiercepharma.com ↩
  8. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 68816, Delta sleep-inducing peptide. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/68816 ↩
  9. World Health Organization. Proposed International Nonproprietary Names, List 70 (emideltide), WHO Drug Information 7(4), 1993. who.int ↩
  10. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Briefing document on emideltide (free base) and emideltide acetate for the July 2026 Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting, dated May 11, 2026. fda.gov/media/193344 ↩
  11. Schoenenberger GA, Maier PF, Tobler HJ, et al. The delta EEG (sleep)-inducing peptide (DSIP). XI. Amino-acid analysis, sequence, synthesis and activity of the nonapeptide. Pflugers Arch. 1978;376(2):119-129. doi: 10.1007/BF00581575 · PMID: 568769 ↩
  12. Monnier M, Hösli L. Dialysis of sleep and waking factors in blood of the rabbit. Science. 1964;146(3645):796-798. doi: 10.1126/science.146.3645.796 · PMID: 14197576 ↩
  13. Sillard R, Schulz-Knappe P, Vogel P, et al. A novel 77-residue peptide from porcine brain contains a leucine-zipper motif and is recognized by an antiserum to delta-sleep-inducing peptide. Eur J Biochem. 1993;216(2):429-436. doi: 10.1111/j.1432-1033.1993.tb18160.x · PMID: 8375381 ↩
  14. Kato N, Honda Y, Ebihara S, et al. Development of an enzyme immunoassay for delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) and its use in the determination of the metabolic clearance rate of DSIP administered to dogs. Neuroendocrinology. 1984;39(1):39-44. doi: 10.1159/000123952 · PMID: 6379493 ↩
  15. Graf MV, Saegesser B, Schoenenberger GA. Degradation and aggregation of delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) and two analogs in plasma and serum. Peptides. 1987;8(4):599-603. doi: 10.1016/0196-9781(87)90031-3 · PMID: 3628078 ↩
  16. Nakamura A, Nakashima M, Sakai K, et al. Delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP) stimulates the release of immunoreactive Met-enkephalin from rat lower brainstem slices in vitro. Brain Res. 1989;481(1):165-168. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(89)90498-8 · PMID: 2706459 ↩
  17. Grigor'ev VV, Ivanova TA, Kustova EA, et al. Effects of delta sleep-inducing peptide on pre- and postsynaptic glutamate and postsynaptic GABA receptors in neurons of the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum in rats. Bull Exp Biol Med. 2006;142(2):186-188. doi: 10.1007/s10517-006-0323-9 · PMID: 17369935 ↩
  18. Bjartell A, Ekman R, Bergquist S, et al. Reduction of immunoreactive ACTH in plasma following intravenous injection of delta sleep-inducing peptide in man. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1989;14(5):347-355. doi: 10.1016/0306-4530(89)90004-8 · PMID: 2554357 ↩
  19. Späth-Schwalbe E, Schäfer A, Uthgenannt D, et al. Delta-sleep-inducing peptide does not affect CRH and meal-induced ACTH and cortisol secretion. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1995;20(3):231-237. doi: 10.1016/0306-4530(94)00050-k · PMID: 7777652 ↩
  20. Scherschlicht R, Aeppli L, Polc P, et al. Some pharmacological effects of delta-sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP). Eur Neurol. 1984;23(5):346-352. doi: 10.1159/000115712 · PMID: 6548967 ↩
  21. Nakagaki K, Ebihara S, Usui S, et al. Effects of intraventricular injection of anti-DSIP serum on sleep in rats [in Japanese]. Yakubutsu Seishin Kodo. 1986;6(2):259-265. PMID: 3776352 ↩
  22. Iyer KS, Marks GA, Kastin AJ, McCann SM. Evidence for a role of delta sleep-inducing peptide in slow-wave sleep and sleep-related growth hormone release in the rat. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1988;85(10):3653-3656. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.10.3653 · PMID: 3368469 ↩
  23. Schneider-Helmert D, Schoenenberger GA. The influence of synthetic DSIP (delta-sleep-inducing-peptide) on disturbed human sleep. Experientia. 1981;37(9):913-917. doi: 10.1007/BF01971753 · PMID: 7028502 ↩
  24. Schneider-Helmert D. Effects of delta-sleep-inducing peptide on 24-hour sleep-wake behaviour in severe chronic insomnia. Eur Neurol. 1987;27(2):120-129. doi: 10.1159/000116143 · PMID: 3622582 ↩
  25. Pomfrett CJ, Dolling S, Anders NR, et al. Delta sleep-inducing peptide alters bispectral index, the electroencephalogram and heart rate variability when used as an adjunct to isoflurane anaesthesia. Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2009;26(2):128-134. doi: 10.1097/EJA.0b013e32831c8644 · PMID: 19142086 ↩
  26. Dick P, Costa C, Fayolle K, et al. DSIP in the treatment of withdrawal syndromes from alcohol and opiates. Eur Neurol. 1984;23(5):364-371. doi: 10.1159/000115715 · PMID: 6548969 ↩
  27. Backmund M, Meyer K, Rothenhaeusler HB, et al. Opioid detoxification with delta sleep-inducing peptide: results of an open clinical trial. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1998;18(3):257-258. doi: 10.1097/00004714-199806000-00016 · PMID: 9617990 ↩
  28. ClinicalTrials.gov search for "delta sleep-inducing peptide" OR DSIP OR emideltide, run October 6, 2026 (0 studies). clinicaltrials.gov ↩
  29. PubMed title/abstract search for "delta sleep-inducing peptide", run October 6, 2026 (407 records; 30 from 2010 onward). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↩
  30. Popovich IG, Voitenkov BO, Anisimov VN, et al. Effect of delta-sleep inducing peptide-containing preparation Deltaran on biomarkers of aging, life span and spontaneous tumor incidence in female SHR mice. Mech Ageing Dev. 2003;124(6):721-731. doi: 10.1016/s0047-6374(03)00082-4 · PMID: 12782416 ↩
  31. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding that may present significant safety risks ("Emideltide (DSIP)" listed under "nominated but withdrawn"; page updated April 22, 2026). fda.gov ↩
  32. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. July 23–24, 2026: Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee (emideltide discussed July 24 for opioid withdrawal, chronic insomnia and narcolepsy). fda.gov ↩
  33. Vidal Russia drug reference. Deltaran (DSIP-based intranasal lyophilisate): registration LP-No.(016126)-(RG-RU) of July 31, 2026, non-prescription. vidal.ru ↩
  34. World Anti-Doping Agency. 2027 Prohibited List explanatory note: unnamed peptides "may still be prohibited"; DSIP is not named on the 2026 or 2027 List. wada-ama.org ↩

For catalog details, see the Genovare DSIP 50mg AQ pen. For compliance context, continue to the Dubai legality brief and the research standards page.

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