Syn-Ake

Syn-Ake (Pentapharm/DSM trade name), "snake venom peptide", tripeptide-3 (loosely; not the correct INCI), Waglerin-1 mimetic

Skin & cosmetic

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Summary

Class: Synthetic small peptide-like molecule (a modified tripeptide: β-alanine–proline–diaminobutyric acid benzylamide, as the diacetate salt) designed to mimic Waglerin-1, a 22-amino-acid peptide from temple viper venom
Mechanism: Proposed to block the muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on the muscle side of the junction, so the muscle responds less to nerve signals — the opposite side of the junction from Argireline-type peptides
Routes studied: Topical only
Dose range reported: Company study: 4% of the raw solution twice daily for 28 days. Finished products typically contain 1–4% of the solution
Half-life: Not applicable systemically; designed for local action in skin
Storage: Finished products as labelled; raw ingredient cool, protected from light
Regulatory status: Permitted cosmetic ingredient worldwide

Doses are as reported in studies or by the community — never recommendations.

1What it is

Syn-Ake is a synthetic molecule from the Swiss company Pentapharm (now part of DSM), launched in 2006 and marketed as a "snake venom" anti-wrinkle ingredient. It does not contain venom. It is a small, lab-made compound designed to copy the working end of Waglerin-1, a peptide from the venom of the temple viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri) that causes muscle paralysis in prey by blocking the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor on skeletal muscle.

Chemically it is barely a peptide — three building blocks, two of which are not standard amino acids, capped with a benzylamide. It is included because it is sold and discussed as a peptide and competes with Argireline (#50) and Snap-8 (#113) in the same "topical botox-alternative" category.

2How it's thought to work

Nerve releases acetylcholine; acetylcholine binds nicotinic receptors on the muscle membrane; muscle contracts.

Waglerin-1 blocks that receptor — selectively the adult muscle form containing the ε subunit — so the muscle cannot respond (McArdle 1999, J Pharmacol Exp Ther).

Syn-Ake is proposed to do the same thing weakly and reversibly. In the manufacturer's cell experiments it reduced the frequency of contractions in cultured muscle cells stimulated with acetylcholine, with reversal after wash-out.

The claimed result is a small reduction in repeated-expression lines, chiefly forehead and around the eyes.

Proposed: a tripeptide-like mimic of a temple viper venom peptide. The venom peptide blocks the muscle's acetylcholine receptor — the other side of the junction from argireline — and this is proposed to do so weakly and reversibly.Schematic — not to scale

Delivery is, again, the weak point: the molecule must reach the neuromuscular junction beneath skin, and no independent penetration data exist. Its small size and lipophilic benzyl group are the manufacturer's argument that it penetrates better than larger peptides.

3What the research shows

Expression wrinkles

The manufacturer's 28-day study in 45 volunteers applying a 4% formulation twice daily reported reductions in forehead wrinkle roughness of up to ~50% in the best responders and an average in the 20–30% range by profilometry, versus small changes with placebo cream (DSM/Pentapharm technical dossier; summarised in Reddy 2012 and Schagen 2017). Industry-run and not published in full in a peer-reviewed journal. [2][3]

Receptor blockade in cells

Cultured muscle cell contraction assays from the manufacturer; and the underlying Waglerin pharmacology, which is solid for the natural venom peptide (McArdle 1999) but is not the same molecule. [1]

Independent trials

No independent, placebo-controlled study of Syn-Ake alone is published. It appears in multi-active products tested in small open studies, which cannot attribute effects.

4Reported side effects and interactions

Literature-reported

Standard cosmetic safety panels passed; no adverse events in company testing.

Community-reported

occasional stinging or redness; some users describe a brief "frozen" or heavy feeling in the forehead, which is more plausibly a sensory effect of the formula than true muscle relaxation. Many report no visible change.

Theoretical. meaningful systemic absorption of a nicotinic receptor blocker would be a concern (that is how the parent venom works), but there is no report of systemic effects from topical cosmetic use, and the amounts involved are tiny.

Interactions. none pharmacological. People using neuromuscular-blocking medicines or with myasthenia gravis are sometimes advised in community guides to avoid it; this is precautionary rather than evidence-based.

Markers researchers commonly monitor

No lab markers are relevant for topical cosmetic use. No compound-specific monitoring is established.

Marker	Why it's watched
Photographs at rest and at maximum expression, same lighting, every 2–4 weeks
Irritation diary

Free for everyone. Safety information is never behind a paywall.

5Reconstitution and handling

Topical only; finished cosmetics or a raw ingredient solution for formulators. Store as labelled; keep raw material cool and away from light. There is no injectable form and no rationale for one. The calculator does not apply.

Open in calculator, pre-loaded →

6Commonly studied alongside

Argireline (#50) and Snap-8 (#113) — these act on the nerve side and Syn-Ake on the muscle side, so products frequently bundle them as a "dual" approach; Leuphasyl (#115); Matrixyl 3000 (#112) for matrix support.

Informational cross-links. Not stack recommendations.

7Regulatory status by region

Region	Status (checked —)
United States	Permitted cosmetic ingredient; muscle-relaxing claims are drug-type claims under FDA rules, so marketing is framed as "appearance of lines"
European Union	Permitted under EC 1223/2009; listed in CosIng
United Kingdom	Same as EU
Australia	Cosmetic ingredient
South Africa	Cosmetic ingredient
Sport	Not listed by WADA

8Open questions

Penetration to the neuromuscular junction in human skin — no independent data.
Independent placebo-controlled trials — none.
Whether the "venom mimic" framing reflects real receptor binding at the concentrations reached in skin or mainly marketing.
Duration of effect after stopping.

9References

1McArdle JJ et al. (1999). Waglerin-1 selectively blocks the epsilon form of the muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. PubMed
2Reddy BY, Jow T, Hantash BM (2012). Bioactive oligopeptides in dermatology: Part II. Exp Dermatol. PubMed · DOI
3Schagen SK (2017). Topical peptide treatments with effective anti-aging results. Cosmetics. DOI
4Gorouhi F, Maibach HI (2009). Role of topical peptides in preventing or treating aged skin. Int J Cosmet Sci. PubMed · DOI
5Lupo MP, Cole AL (2007). Cosmeceutical peptides. Dermatol Ther. PubMed · DOI
6Pentapharm / DSM (manufacturer technical dossier). Syn-Ake efficacy and safety summary — company data, not peer-reviewed. PubMed

References are being resolved to PubMed/DOI identifiers; links search PubMed for the citation until then.

10Community

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Self-reported side effects Phase 2

Not enough data yet. 0 of the 50 members needed have logged this compound for 4+ weeks. We don't show anything below 50, so no one can be identified.

11Page history

26 Oct 2026Profile published — awaiting medical review

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