# DSIP - Canonical: https://residue.info/c/dsip/ - Also called: Delta sleep-inducing peptide, Emideltide - Evidence grade: C (Limited / early human data). Small double-blind studies from 1983–1992 in insomnia, including a 16-patient parallel-group study that found weak, possibly incidental effects; no registered trials. - Status: Not FDA-approved · FDA compounding nomination withdrawn - PubChem CID: 68816 - Updated: 2026-10-19 · Reviewed by: Residue Editorial Team DSIP is a nonapeptide isolated from rabbit cerebral venous blood in 1977 and proposed as a sleep-promoting factor [1]. Small 1980s studies reported better sleep in insomnia [2][3], but a 1992 double-blind study of 16 insomniacs found weak effects and little therapeutic promise [4]. FDA lists emideltide (DSIP) among withdrawn compounding nominations [5]. ## Key findings - In 16 chronic insomniacs given 25 nmol/kg IV or placebo for three nights, sleep efficiency and latency improved slightly, but effects were weak and subjective sleep quality did not change [4]. (anchor: https://residue.info/c/dsip/#kf-pmid-1299794) - In 14 middle-aged chronic insomniacs, seven nights of DSIP under placebo-controlled, double-blind conditions improved night sleep and daytime alertness [3]. (anchor: https://residue.info/c/dsip/#kf-pmid-3622582) - Early studies reported sleep improvement after single 25 nmol/kg injections and normalization after four doses [2]. (anchor: https://residue.info/c/dsip/#kf-pmid-6391925) - A 2006 review called DSIP 'a still unresolved riddle': no gene, precursor protein or receptor had been isolated [1]. (anchor: https://residue.info/c/dsip/#kf-pmid-16539679) - FDA lists emideltide (DSIP) among withdrawn compounding nominations and says it has identified no safety information for the proposed route [5]. (anchor: https://residue.info/c/dsip/#kf-fda-cat2) ## Effects by system - Chronic insomnia (grade C): Positive small double-blind studies in the 1980s [3][6]; weak effect in a 1992 parallel-group study [4]. (anchor: https://residue.info/c/dsip/#effect-chronic-insomnia) - Daytime alertness (grade C): Higher alertness and performance reported in small studies [3][6]. (anchor: https://residue.info/c/dsip/#effect-daytime-alertness) - Sleep (animal) (grade D): Slow-wave-sleep promotion by synthetic analogs rather than DSIP itself in rabbits and rats [1]. (anchor: https://residue.info/c/dsip/#effect-sleep-animal) ## What is DSIP? Delta sleep-inducing peptide was isolated from rabbit cerebral venous blood in Basel in 1977 and initially regarded as a candidate sleep-promoting factor [1]. PubChem lists the nine-residue sequence WAGGDASGE and the name emideltide [7]. Its structure differs from all other known peptide families [1]. ## How is DSIP thought to work? Nobody knows. A 2006 review noted that no DSIP gene, protein precursor or receptor had been isolated, and that the hypothesis linking DSIP to sleep is extremely poorly documented. In the authors' animal studies, certain synthetic DSIP analogs, but not DSIP itself, promoted slow-wave sleep [1]. ## What have studies found? **Early human studies.** Five double-blind studies with single and repeated intravenous injections reported good tolerability, sleep induction with a latency of about an hour, and normalization of disturbed sleep after four consecutive injections; slow injection was essential [6]. In 14 middle-aged chronic insomniacs, a week of nightly DSIP improved night sleep and daytime alertness under placebo-controlled conditions [3]. **The 1992 study.** In a double-blind, matched-pairs, parallel-group study of 16 chronic insomniacs, 25 nmol/kg DSIP was given intravenously before three nights. Sleep efficiency was higher and latency shorter than on placebo, but the effects were weak and partly due to a change in the placebo group; subjective sleep quality did not change. The authors concluded short-term DSIP is not likely to be of major therapeutic benefit in chronic insomnia [4]. **Registered trials.** ClinicalTrials.gov returned no registered studies at our last fetch [8]. FDA lists "Emideltide (DSIP)" among substances whose compounding nominations were withdrawn. It notes possible immunogenicity and impurity complexities and says FDA has identified no safety-related information for the proposed route, so it lacks sufficient information to know whether emideltide would cause harm in humans [5]. Drugs@FDA returned no application. ## What is still unknown? - **Its natural role and receptor**, unresolved since 1977 [1]. - **Any modern trial.** The human studies we found date from 1983 to 1992 [6][4]. ## Frequently asked questions **Is DSIP FDA-approved?** No. FDA lists 'Emideltide (DSIP)' among withdrawn compounding nominations, noting immunogenicity risk and that it lacks information to know whether it would cause harm in humans [5]. **Does DSIP help you sleep?** Small 1980s studies reported better sleep in insomnia [3][2], but a 1992 double-blind study found the effects weak and possibly due to a change in the placebo group [4]. **What is emideltide?** Emideltide is the international non-proprietary name for DSIP; PubChem lists it as a synonym, with the sequence WAGGDASGE [7]. ## Sources [1] Delta sleep-inducing peptide (DSIP): a still unresolved riddle. Kovalzon VM & Strekalova TV J Neurochem. 2006. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16539679/ [2] DSIP in insomnia. Schneider-Helmert D Eur Neurol. 1984. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6391925/ [3] Effects of delta-sleep-inducing peptide on 24-hour sleep-wake behaviour in severe chronic insomnia. Schneider-Helmert D Eur Neurol. 1987. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3622582/ [4] Effects of delta sleep-inducing peptide on sleep of chronic insomniac patients. A double-blind study. Bes F et al. Neuropsychobiology. 1992. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1299794/ [5] Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks. U.S. FDA, content current as of 04/22/2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks [6] Effects of DSIP in man. Multifunctional psychophysiological properties besides induction of natural sleep. Schneider-Helmert D & Schoenenberger GA Neuropsychobiology. 1983. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6689058/ [7] PubChem compound record: Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide. C35H48N10O15 · MW 848.8 g/mol. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/68816 [8] ClinicalTrials.gov registry search: "delta sleep-inducing peptide" OR DSIP OR emideltide. 0 registered studies at fetch. https://clinicaltrials.gov/search?intr=%22delta%20sleep-inducing%20peptide%22%20OR%20DSIP%20OR%20emideltide --- From Residue. Research and education only; not medical advice. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical page.