Abstract: The present invention relates to peptides and peptide derivatives related to platelet factor 4 which exhibit angiogenic activity, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said peptides, and to methods for promoting angiogenesis utilizing said peptides. It is based, in part, on the discovery that an octapeptide derived from platelet factor 4 and seven structurally related peptides (depicted in FIG. 1) are capable of inducing an angiogenic response in vivo as measured by neovascularization in rabbit corneal implant assay and by measurement of capillary endothelial cell chemoattraction. The angiogenic peptides of the invention may be particularly useful in promoting wound healing, including incisional healing, bone repair, burn healing, and post-infarction repair in myocardial injury, and in facilitating the assimilation of grafted tissues, particularly in persons suffering from vascular insufficiency, such as diabetic patients.