1. What is it?
Vasoactive intestinal peptide is a natural signal used by cells. Vasoactive means it can affect blood vessels. Aviptadil is a synthetic form of VIP, combined with phentolamine in the medicine Invicorp. This medicine has a specific indication: symptomatic treatment of erectile dysfunction in adult men. Studies of aviptadil alone in lung disease are a separate subject. Findings and safety data for one formulation cannot automatically be transferred to other products or uses. [147] [127]
2. Why do people turn to it?
In an approved combination medicine, aviptadil helps treat erectile dysfunction. VIP also interests people seeking better breathing and recovery after illness. One research area is pulmonary hypertension, where blood flow through the lungs is restricted and the right side of the heart works harder. Another was severe respiratory failure in COVID-19. This does not establish an effect on everyday tiredness or general recovery. Studies in severely ill patients do not automatically show benefits for healthy people. [147] [125] [127]
3. How does it work?
VIP can dilate blood vessels by relaxing the muscle in their walls. In the lung circulation, this could reduce resistance to blood flow and ease the heart's workload. Small studies did observe changes in such measurements. However, these are not complete treatment outcomes: a short-term improvement in blood flow does not necessarily mean fewer hospital admissions, better functioning or longer life. Those benefits require separate assessment with sufficiently long patient follow-up. [125] [126]
4. What do studies actually show?
An early 2003 study involved eight people with pulmonary hypertension and produced encouraging observations. A 2008 paper assessed 20 patients; the pulmonary blood-vessel effect was small and short-lived. The much larger TESICO study concerned severe COVID-19. Its aviptadil comparison included 471 randomized participants. The 2023 publication did not show significant improvement in clinical outcomes assessed through day 90. [125] [126] [127]
5. What do we still not know?
Studies of pulmonary hypertension and COVID-19 address different questions. A positive finding in a small experiment in one disease should not be used to dismiss an unfavourable result from a larger trial in another. How a medicine is prepared and used matters too: observing a brief response to an inhaled product does not describe the long-term effects of other forms. For many popular online claims about VIP, the studies presented simply do not provide relevant data. [126] [127]
6. What are the risks?
A small trial of inhaled aviptadil found no serious problems, but involved short follow-up and a selected patient group. It cannot establish rare complications or the safety of months of use. In severe COVID-19, medical events were assessed in hospital with close monitoring. This is not equivalent to taking a product outside a trial. The underlying illness, other medicines and the particular product matter. Invicorp has its own warnings, including prolonged erections, palpitations and skin flushing. These are risks of a combination medicine, not necessarily of just one ingredient. [126] [127] [147]
7. Is it an approved medicine?
Invicorp, a medicine containing aviptadil and phentolamine, is available in Europe. The Norwegian register confirms its authorisation, market availability and prescription-only status. Its indication is erectile dysfunction in adult men, not lung disease. Separately, the FDA granted orphan drug designation to aviptadil being studied for sarcoidosis. This encourages development of treatments for rare conditions; the current FDA record does not confirm approval to treat sarcoidosis. [147] [148] [128]
8. What is new in research?
As of 3 November 2026, TESICO, published in 2023, remains the main large trial in this overview. It is not a new 2026 publication, but it still provides an important counterweight to earlier promising reports about severe COVID-19. The FDA record concerning sarcoidosis does not confirm approval. A fair profile update therefore mainly means showing the current limits of knowledge and waiting for results from further properly designed studies. [127] [128]
Where does this information come from?
References link to the publications and documents used. Each source includes its material type and what was reviewed; findings concern the substance, form and study population described.
Show sources and how they were checked
- Invicorp — Preparatomtale
Official Norwegian summary of product characteristics; updated 09.07.2026; composition, indication 4.1, warnings 4.3–4.5, adverse effects 4.8, mechanism 5.1 and authorisation and update dates were read. Accessed: 03.11.2026.
- Inhalation of vasoactive intestinal peptide in pulmonary hypertension
Small study of a short-term response in humans; November 2008; full PubMed abstract read · DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00050008. Accessed: 03.11.2026.
- Intravenous aviptadil and remdesivir for treatment of COVID-19-associated hypoxaemic respiratory failure in the USA (TESICO): a randomised, placebo-controlled trial
Multicentre randomised human study; 2023; PubMed abstract read. Accessed: 03.11.2026.
- Vasoactive intestinal peptide as a new drug for treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension
Laboratory research and a small human intervention study; May 2003; abstract and selected methods from the full PMC text were read · DOI: 10.1172/JCI17500. Accessed: 03.11.2026.
- Invicorp — Legemiddelvisning
Official Norwegian DMP register; checked on 3 November 2026: authorised and marketed, prescription-only, aviptadil/phentolamine composition, first authorisation 21 July 2015; full product record reviewed. Accessed: 3 November 2026.
- Search Orphan Drug Designations and Approvals — Aviptadil, Treatment of sarcoidosis
Current FDA record accessed 3 November 2026; designation dated 23 July 2020; complete short record, indication and approval status reviewed. Accessed: 3 November 2026.