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HER-096 is a brain-penetrating peptidomimetic derived from human CDNF (cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor), developed by Herantis Pharma as a candidate disease-modifying therapy for Parkinson's. It mimics CDNF's cytoprotective biology in a small, stable molecule; it eases endoplasmic-reticulum stress by modulating the unfolded protein response, protects dopaminergic neurons, reduces alpha-synuclein aggregation, and calms neuroinflammation. Unlike the full CDNF protein, which had to be infused directly into the brain, HER-096 reaches the brain after a simple subcutaneous injection.
- Protects dopamine neurons in Parkinson's models
- Reduces alpha-synuclein aggregation
- Eases endoplasmic-reticulum stress via the unfolded protein response
- Brain-penetrant after a simple subcutaneous injection
- Metabolically stable, unlike the full CDNF protein
- Injectable, so injection-site reactions are the expected nuisance
Overview
this one is worth keeping an eye on; a clever attempt to bottle CDNF's neuroprotection into a shot you could actually give someone. still early, still just Phase I, but the idea is lovely.
- The full CDNF protein had to be delivered straight into the brain through surgically implanted catheters in its own Parkinson's trial; HER-096 was built specifically so the same biology could travel in on a subcutaneous injection instead.
- CDNF does not act at a classic cell-surface receptor; it works from inside the endoplasmic reticulum, which is an unusual place for a neurotrophic factor to do its job.
Mechanism
HER-096 was engineered from the active region of CDNF, an unconventional neurotrophic factor that works from inside the endoplasmic reticulum rather than at a classic cell-surface receptor. It modulates unfolded-protein-response signaling to relieve ER stress, and recent work shows it triggers a sigma-1-receptor-mediated calcium signal in astrocytes and neurons that blunts . Downstream it promotes -neuron survival, reduces alpha-synuclein aggregation, and lowers in the substantia nigra. It is metabolically stable and, after subcutaneous dosing, reaches cerebrospinal and brain interstitial fluid with a longer in the brain than in plasma.
receptor fingerprint
Unfolded protein response (ER stress)modulates
Sigma-1 receptoractivates
Alpha-synuclein aggregationreduces
Dosingtypical ranges, not medical advice
interested in protocols and clinical dosages? make an account to see them! ^_^
Safetyrisks and cautions, not medical advice
Human safety data is limited to Phase I. Two completed trials assessed single and repeated subcutaneous doses in healthy volunteers and Parkinson's patients, and the programme advanced, which is consistent with acceptable early tolerability. As an injectable peptide-like drug the expected nuisance is injection-site reactions. Longer-term safety, and whether it actually changes disease course, are unknown. It is investigational only; not approved, not a supplement, and not available to buy.
History
CDNF itself was discovered in the mid-2000s and tested directly in Parkinson's by infusion into the brain, which required implanted catheters and surgery. Herantis Pharma designed HER-096 to capture that biology in a small, stable molecule given by a simple injection instead. The peptidomimetic was described in 2023 in Cell Chemical Biology; a first-in-human Phase I single-ascending-dose study ran in 2023, and a Phase Ib study in healthy volunteers and Parkinson's patients completed in 2025.
Reputation
Among people who follow neurotrophic and disease-modifying approaches to Parkinson's, HER-096 is watched with cautious interest; it is one of the more credible attempts to turn a neurotrophic factor into a practical, injectable drug. It has essentially no grey-market presence and is not used by the nootropics community, because it does not exist as a product.
Subjective profileweighing the evidence above
An early-stage investigational neuroprotective peptidomimetic; not a nootropic and not a consumer product. The preclinical story is genuinely interesting because it reproduces CDNF's biology in a small, brain-penetrant, injectable molecule. But the human data so far is only Phase I safety and pharmacokinetics; there is no proof yet that it slows Parkinson's in people. Treat it as a promising research candidate to watch, not something to source or self-experiment with.
Resources
This entry is here for reference.
Research
- 1.HER-096 is a CDNF-derived brain-penetrating peptidomimetic that protects dopaminergic neurons in a mouse synucleinopathy model of Parkinson's disease.
- 2.Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor and its functional fragments induce calcium signal through sigma-1 receptor and protect neurons against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity.
- 3.Phase I single ascending dose safety and pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous HER-096 in healthy volunteers (NCT05915247)
- 4.Phase Ib safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous HER-096 in healthy volunteers and Parkinson's patients (NCT06659562)
4 listed here; entry last updated August 2026
Reviews
My notesprivate to this device
FAQ
What is HER-096?
A brain-penetrating peptidomimetic derived from human CDNF, developed by Herantis Pharma as a candidate disease-modifying treatment for Parkinson's disease.
How is it given?
By subcutaneous injection. It was designed so CDNF's biology could be delivered with a simple shot rather than the brain-infusion surgery the full protein required.
Does it work in humans?
Unknown so far. Two Phase I trials tested safety and pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers and Parkinson's patients; efficacy against the disease has not been shown yet.
Can I buy it?
No. It is an investigational drug in early clinical development; there is no approved or consumer product and no legitimate source.
Limitations of the evidence
- Only Phase I human safety data exists; longer-term effects are unknown
- No evidence yet that it changes Parkinson's progression in people
- Not approved, not available, investigational only
Adverse effects
- Injectable, so injection-site reactions are the expected nuisance