At a glance

What is dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate?

Dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate is a synthetic peptide marketed in skincare under the trade name SYN-AKE, developed by Pentapharm (now part of dsm-firmenich). It is designed to imitate waglerin-1, a small peptide found in the venom of the temple viper. Despite that origin, the cosmetic ingredient is made synthetically and contains no actual venom. It is a cosmetic ingredient, not a drug, and is used in products positioned as a gentler, topical approach to the look of expression lines.

The history of SYN-AKE

SYN-AKE grew out of snake venom research. It is modeled on waglerin-1, a peptide found in the venom of the temple viper (Tropidolaemus wagleri), a snake native to Southeast Asia. In the viper, that venom component briefly interrupts the nerve-to-muscle signal; scientists recreated a stable, synthetic version of its active region for use on skin, containing none of the venom itself.

The ingredient was developed by Pentapharm, a Swiss company known for venom-derived compounds, which introduced¹ it as an anti-wrinkle active around 2005, and later became part of DSM. SYN-AKE went on to become one of the better-known snake venom² skincare stories of the late 2000s, when creams built around it were marketed as a needle-free alternative to muscle-relaxing injections.

How does it work?

Laboratory studies suggest the peptide works by quieting the signal that makes facial muscles contract. Normally the neurotransmitter acetylcholine binds to receptors on muscle, called nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, to trigger contraction. The venom peptide it is modeled on reversibly blocks that receptor, and the synthetic version is proposed to do the same, so the small muscles that create "expression lines" contract less and the overlying skin looks smoother.

This is the same general idea marketed for other "expression line" peptides, and it is why SYN-AKE is sometimes described as a topical alternative to muscle-relaxing injections. It is important to frame this accurately: The mechanism is demonstrated in laboratory settings, and a topical cosmetic does not reach or paralyze muscle the way an injection does. In finished products the goal is described in appearance terms, the look of fewer or softer dynamic lines.

Is it FDA-approved?

No, and it does not need to be. The FDA does not pre-approve cosmetic ingredients. A cosmetic may make claims about the appearance of skin, while a claim to relax muscles or otherwise change the body's function would make a product a drug. SYN-AKE is used as a cosmetic ingredient, for the appearance of the skin.

What is it used for?

It is used in "anti-aging" serums and creams aimed at dynamic or expression lines, such as forehead lines and crow's-feet around the eyes. The appearance goal is smoother-looking skin and a reduction in the look of lines that deepen with facial movement. It is frequently combined with other peptides and humectants.

What does the research show?

The direct evidence for the isolated peptide is limited. According to PubMed, a 2026 ex-vivo and clinical study³ tested a serum that contained dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate together with acetyl hexapeptide-8, niacinamide, and other actives, and reported improvements in the appearance of wrinkles and skin quality. That evidence has three limits:

• Because the peptide was one of several active ingredients, that result cannot be attributed to it alone.
• No independent trial of SYN-AKE by itself measuring appearance outcomes was found.
• Much of the supporting data is laboratory or manufacturer-based.

What are the side effects?

The peptide is generally reported as well tolerated on the skin, with low irritation potential at cosmetic use levels, and topical application is not known to produce a systemic muscle effect. As with any new skincare product, people with sensitive skin may want to patch test, since individual reactions vary.

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