What is the structural difference?

LL-37 is a 37-residue human cathelicidin product. Bovine lactoferricin B is a 25-residue N-terminal fragment of bovine lactoferrin; lactoferrin protein and human lactoferricin are distinct interventions.

What human evidence is relevant?

Three published native topical LL-37 wound populations show mixed results. The selected lactoferricin B studies tested bacterial membranes and purified peptides, not human treatment efficacy.

Which peptide is safer or more effective?

No clinical head-to-head result was identified. Differences in laboratory killing or peptide origin cannot establish comparative clinical benefit or safety.

LL-37 vs Lactoferricin: Evidence and Limits (2026)

Dossier labels summarize each dossier's research scope. They do not establish comparative treatment benefit or safety. Read the comparison below in that context.

Peptide identity matters

LL-37 is processed from human hCAP18. Lactoferricin B is a peptide released from the N-terminal region of bovine lactoferrin; full-length lactoferrin, human lactoferricin and shorter synthetic analogs cannot be counted as the same drug. LL-37 identity, PMID 8681941 · lactoferricin B study, PMID 21607695

Evidence question	LL-37	Lactoferricin B
Direct selected evidence	Three published native topical wound populations	Purified-fragment bacterial membrane and killing assays
Human treatment result	Mixed wound findings; no broad infection benefit established	None identified in the selected primary studies
Therapeutic-claim grade	Low for general wound/infection claims	Very low for human treatment claims

The 34-person LL-37 venous-ulcer pilot reported selected healing signals. The 148-person phase IIb venous-ulcer study found no significant full-cohort healing advantage; a favorable large-ulcer subgroup was post hoc. A diabetic-foot-ulcer cream trial reported granulation improvement but no significant change in aerobic bacterial colonization. LL-37 topical pilot, PMID 25041740 · larger phase IIb trial, PMID 34687253 · diabetic-foot-ulcer trial, PMID 37480520

An intratumoral LL-37 melanoma registry posts results from only four people; this is distinct from the topical wound trials and does not establish antitumor efficacy. An open-label trial of engineered L. lactis expressing LL-37 used a live biotherapeutic rather than purified peptide and did not significantly change the overall viral-negative-time endpoint. NCT02225366 · PMID 37605995

In laboratory work, bovine lactoferricin and bovine lactoferrin released bacterial lipopolysaccharide, and a later peptide study assessed bacterial membrane permeability, killing kinetics and structural variants. Those assays show experimental antimicrobial activity, not that either lactoferricin or LL-37 cures an infection in people. PMID 8423097 · PMID 21607695

The prior page’s MIC, speed, toxicity, price and selectivity rankings lacked a shared clinical or assay context, so they cannot support a comparative verdict. No head-to-head human trial was identified among the cited studies. FDA notes insufficient safety information for compounded LL-37; that statement is not a lactoferricin safety evaluation. FDA compounding safety review

This is selected research for education, not product or treatment guidance.

LL-37 vs Lactoferricin

LL-37

Lactoferricin

Peptide identity matters

View Full Dossiers

Stay Updated on Peptide Comparisons