Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) is a 28-amino acid neuropeptide with powerful anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties. It sits at the center of Dr. Shoemaker's CIRS protocol, has attracted growing research interest in long COVID, MCAS, and neuroinflammation — and remains one of the hardest research peptides to find from Western suppliers. We track current pricing across available sources.
| Supplier | Size | Price | Price / mg | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Chems Check First | 0.5mg | ~$30–$45 Est. | ~$60–$90/mg | One of the more likely Western sources — verify VIP is currently in stock |
| Spectrum Peptides | 0.5mg | ~$35–$50 Est. | ~$70–$100/mg | Stock is intermittent — check availability before relying on this source |
| Peptide Lab | 0.5mg | ~$40–$65 Est. | ~$80–$130/mg | Broad catalog; most likely to have specialty peptides in stock when others don't |
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) is a 28-amino acid neuropeptide first isolated from porcine intestinal tissue in 1970 by Said and Mutt. Despite its name, VIP is expressed throughout the body — in the nervous system, lungs, gut, immune cells, and reproductive organs — and functions primarily as an anti-inflammatory signal, neuromodulator, and immunoregulator rather than a gut hormone.
VIP binds to two receptor subtypes — VPAC1 and VPAC2 — that are expressed in the brain, immune cells, lung, and gastrointestinal tissue. Through these receptors, VIP suppresses the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12, and interferon-γ, while promoting anti-inflammatory cytokines like IL-10. It also activates regulatory T-cells and inhibits mast cell degranulation — two properties that have made it particularly interesting in chronic inflammatory conditions.
VIP's user profile is perhaps the most specialized of any peptide on this site — this is not a mainstream wellness peptide. The primary communities researching it are:
CIRS patients following the Shoemaker protocol — Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker's Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome protocol uses VIP as its final, highest-level intervention. After completing prior steps (binding agents, VCS correction, MMP-9/TGF-β normalization, etc.), VIP nasal spray is used to normalize persistent inflammatory markers, improve lung function, restore MSH and VIP levels that are characteristically depleted in CIRS, and complete the neurological recovery phase of the protocol.
Long COVID researchers and patients — Long COVID shares numerous immune and inflammatory features with CIRS: elevated TGF-β1, low MSH, persistent cytokine dysregulation, autonomic dysfunction, and pulmonary involvement. VIP's mechanism is directly relevant to these pathways, and some functional medicine physicians working with long COVID patients have incorporated VIP into individualized protocols. Research is ongoing and results are preliminary but promising.
MCAS community — Mast Cell Activation Syndrome patients experience systemic symptoms from inappropriate mast cell activation. VIP's direct mast cell-stabilizing effect, combined with its anti-inflammatory and neuroimmune properties, has generated significant interest in communities where MCAS overlaps with CIRS, dysautonomia, or post-infectious syndromes.
Neuroinflammation research — The CNS effects of VIP — reducing microglial activation, supporting neuronal survival, and modulating autonomic signaling — make it relevant to researchers studying neuroinflammatory conditions, brain fog, and neurodegenerative pathways associated with chronic inflammation.
Typically the first place to check for less-common peptides in the research market. VIP availability is not guaranteed — verify before ordering.
Visit Swiss Chems →Broad catalog with periodic availability on specialty peptides. VIP stock is inconsistent — if not listed, check again in a few weeks.
Visit Spectrum Peptides →One of the larger catalogs; somewhat more likely than smaller suppliers to carry uncommon peptides like VIP. Pricing runs slightly higher.
Visit Peptide Lab →VIP is genuinely scarce from Western research suppliers. Try setting a price alert below, or check back in 2–4 weeks — specialty peptide batches rotate frequently.
Research-grade VIP Peptide in 2026 typically runs $30–$65 per 0.5mg vial, with per-milligram costs of roughly $60–$130 — significantly higher than longer or more popular peptides due to synthesis complexity and low Western supplier availability. The standard research vial size is 0.5mg, which at a 50mcg daily protocol provides approximately 10 days of doses. Monthly supply cost depends heavily on the specific protocol frequency used.
Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker's CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) protocol is a multi-step approach to treating biotoxin-related illness. VIP appears as the final step — typically after completing binding agents (cholestyramine/Welchol), VCS correction, normalization of elevated inflammatory markers (MMP-9, TGF-β1), and correction of low MSH. VIP in the Shoemaker protocol is typically administered intranasally at 50mcg doses. It is used to normalize residual VIP deficiency, improve VO2 max, reduce pulmonary artery pressures that remain elevated in some CIRS patients, and complete recovery. The protocol requires working with a certified Shoemaker-trained physician.
Yes — Aviptadil is the pharmaceutical name for synthetic Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide. It gained attention during the COVID-19 pandemic when NeuroRx Inc. pursued Emergency Use Authorization for inhaled Aviptadil (RLF-100) for COVID-related respiratory failure. The compound received considerable research attention for its pulmonary vasodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects in critically ill COVID patients. Research-grade VIP from research suppliers is the same peptide sequence as Aviptadil, synthesized for laboratory research purposes.
VIP and Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA-1) both support immune function but through fundamentally different pathways. TA-1 works primarily on the adaptive immune system — promoting T-cell maturation, Th1 activity, and dendritic cell function. It is better suited for systemic immune deficiency and chronic immune dysregulation. VIP works primarily as an anti-inflammatory immunomodulator — suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines, stabilizing mast cells, and reducing neuroinflammation. It is more targeted toward chronic inflammatory overactivation rather than immune underactivation. The two are not substitutes; in CIRS protocols, both may be relevant at different stages for different purposes.
Not as a standard drug approval. Aviptadil (VIP) has been investigated in FDA-supervised clinical trials for pulmonary arterial hypertension and received emergency research consideration during COVID-19, but has not received standard FDA approval. Research-grade VIP from research suppliers is sold for laboratory research purposes only and is not approved for human use in the United States. Some integrative physicians have used it through 503A compounding pharmacies; current regulatory status under the April 2026 reclassifications should be verified with a licensed healthcare provider.
VIP Peptide stock and pricing change frequently. We'll notify you when it drops below your target price at any tracked supplier.