Antimicrobial · Investigational
Lactoferricin
No lawful US pathway
01 · Overview
Lactoferricin is an antimicrobial peptide released by pepsin-mediated cleavage of lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein found in milk and mucosal secretions. The first lactoferrin-derived peptide was isolated about three decades ago and showed higher antimicrobial activity than native lactoferrin (PMID 34681923).
Lactoferrins, lactoferricins and other lactoferrin-derived peptides have documented antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitic activities, with mechanisms that depend on structure, charge and hydrophobicity (PMID 34681923). Interest has focused on food preservation, oral health and topical antimicrobial applications.
02 · Research summary & key findings
Laboratory studies have defined the antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antiparasitic mechanisms of lactoferricins and related lactoferrin-derived peptides, though the molecular detail remains incompletely resolved (PMID 34681923). Human oral-health trials have generally tested lactoferrin-containing products rather than lactoferricin itself; for example, a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled trial of a tablet containing lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase and glucose oxidase significantly reduced volatile sulfur compounds associated with oral malodor (PMID 27001471). Large-scale clinical development of lactoferricin has not occurred, and most applications remain preclinical or early phase.
03 · Regulatory status
Lactoferricin is in the investigational stage. While preclinical and early-phase data exist, it has not received regulatory approval for clinical use in the United States.
No lawful pathway today
Lactoferricin is not FDA-approved and does not currently have a lawful prescription or compounding pathway in the United States, so we do not sell it and will not book a consultation for it. That can change: in 2026 FDA began reviewing several peptides for compounding.
See the 3 FDA-approved compounds in Antimicrobial
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04 · Administration routes
- Oral
- Topical
References
- [1]A randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial to assess effects of the single ingestion of a tablet containing lactoferrin, lactoperoxidase, and glucose oxidase on oral malodor BMC Oral Health, 2016. PMID 27001471
- [2]Diverse Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Activities of Lactoferrins, Lactoferricins, and Other Lactoferrin-Derived Peptides Int J Mol Sci, 2021. PMID 34681923
Primary literature
- PubMed: "Lactoferricin"
Peer-reviewed literature indexed by the National Library of Medicine.
- ClinicalTrials.gov: "Lactoferricin"
Registered interventional and observational studies, including status and phase.
- PubChem: "Lactoferricin"
Chemical structure, molecular properties, and bioactivity data.
Related peptides in Antimicrobial
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational and research purposes only. It is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any peptide therapy. The Peptide Association does not endorse or recommend any specific treatment protocol. See our editorial policy for how this content is produced and reviewed. Clinicians: join the network.