Synthetic pentadecapeptideResearch chemical

BPC-157

A synthetic 15-amino-acid peptide with striking tissue-healing effects in rodent studies — and essentially no controlled human evidence. Sold as a research chemical, not an approved drug.

Best evidenceTendon and ligament healing · D

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Long-acting amylin (and calcitonin) receptor agonistInvestigational

Cagrilintide

An investigational once-weekly long-acting amylin analog from Novo Nordisk, studied both alone and — as CagriSema — combined with semaglutide for weight management. Not approved as a standalone drug.

Best evidenceWeight loss (as monotherapy) · B

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Long-acting GHRH analogResearch chemical

CJC-1295

A synthetic growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog that raises GH and IGF-1 in humans, but has no proven clinical benefit and is sold only as a research chemical.

Best evidenceRaises GH and IGF-1 secretion · C

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GLP-1 receptor agonistFDA-approved

Dulaglutide

A once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist (Trulicity) approved for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk reduction — including in people without established heart disease.

Best evidenceGlycemic control (type 2 diabetes) · A

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Synthetic tetrapeptideResearch chemical

Epitalon

A four-amino-acid peptide (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) promoted as a telomerase-activating "longevity" compound. The anti-aging claims rest largely on a small body of older, mostly Russian studies of variable quality. Sold as a research chemical, not an approved drug.

Best evidenceHuman aging biomarkers (melatonin rhythm, mortality in older cohorts) · C

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GLP-1 receptor agonistFDA-approved

Exenatide

The first-in-class GLP-1 receptor agonist — derived from Gila monster venom and FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes as twice-daily Byetta and once-weekly Bydureon.

Best evidenceGlycemic control (type 2 diabetes) · A

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Copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine + Cu2+)Status varies by jurisdiction

GHK-Cu

A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide widely used as a topical cosmetic ingredient, with real — if modest — human data for skin appearance. Its injectable and systemic use is a separate, unproven research-chemical category.

Best evidenceSkin appearance — wrinkles, firmness, texture (topical) · C

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Synthetic growth-hormone-releasing peptide (ghrelin receptor agonist)Research chemical

GHRP-2

A synthetic peptide that reliably triggers a short-term spike in growth hormone by activating the ghrelin receptor. The hormonal effect is real and measurable in humans; downstream clinical benefits are unproven. Sold as a research chemical, not an approved drug.

Best evidenceAcute increase in growth hormone secretion · C

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Synthetic growth-hormone-releasing hexapeptide (ghrelin receptor agonist)Research chemical

GHRP-6

The original GH-releasing peptide — a synthetic hexapeptide that stimulates a growth hormone pulse and strongly increases appetite via the ghrelin receptor. The hormonal and hunger effects are measurable; clinical benefits are unproven. Sold as a research chemical, not an approved drug.

Best evidenceAcute increase in growth hormone secretion · C

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Selective ghrelin/GH-secretagogue receptor agonistResearch chemical

Ipamorelin

A selective growth-hormone secretagogue that raises GH without spiking cortisol or prolactin — but its clinical benefits are unproven and it is sold only as a research chemical.

Best evidenceRaises GH secretion · C

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Anti-inflammatory tripeptide (C-terminal fragment of alpha-MSH)Research chemical

KPV

A tripeptide fragment of the hormone alpha-MSH marketed for anti-inflammatory and gut-health effects. Its anti-inflammatory activity is well documented in cell and animal models, but there is no controlled human evidence, and it is sold as a research chemical.

Best evidenceIntestinal / colonic inflammation (colitis) · D

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GLP-1 receptor agonistFDA-approved

Liraglutide

A once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist and one of the most studied incretin drugs — FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza), chronic weight management (Saxenda), and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Best evidenceGlycemic control (type 2 diabetes) · A

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Human cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial / host-defense peptide (37 residues)Research chemical

LL-37

The human body's own cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, and a genuine subject of immunology research. As a marketed compound, however, it is an unapproved research chemical with no controlled human evidence for its advertised uses — and it is directly toxic to human cells at higher concentrations.

Best evidenceAntimicrobial / innate immune defense (endogenous role) · D

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Orally-active non-peptide ghrelin receptor agonist / growth hormone secretagogueInvestigational

MK-677

An orally-active, non-peptide GH secretagogue that durably raises growth hormone and IGF-1 in humans — the best-studied compound in this class. Reached late-stage Merck trials but was never approved because it failed to deliver clinical benefit. Sold today as a gray-market research chemical.

Best evidenceSustained increase in growth hormone and IGF-1 · B

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Mitochondrial-derived peptideResearch chemical

MOTS-c

A 16-amino-acid peptide encoded within mitochondrial DNA with genuinely interesting metabolic and mitochondrial biology in cells and rodents — and no controlled human evidence. Sold as a research chemical, not an approved drug.

Best evidenceMetabolic health / insulin sensitivity · D

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Oral non-peptide (small-molecule) GLP-1 receptor agonistInvestigational

Orforglipron

An investigational once-daily oral non-peptide GLP-1 receptor agonist from Eli Lilly. Notable as a small-molecule pill — no injection and no food-timing restrictions — with phase 3 weight-loss and diabetes data now reported.

Best evidenceWeight loss · B

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Triple GIP / GLP-1 / glucagon receptor agonistInvestigational

Retatrutide

An investigational once-weekly triple hormone-receptor agonist from Eli Lilly that produced the largest weight loss yet reported in a phase 2 obesity trial — but it is not approved, and its evidence base is still early.

Best evidenceWeight loss · C

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Synthetic heptapeptide (Tuftsin analog)Status varies by jurisdiction

Selank

An anxiolytic heptapeptide analog of the immune peptide tuftsin, registered as a medicine in Russia but not FDA-approved. Human anxiety data exists but sits mostly in Russian-language literature that is hard to independently verify.

Best evidenceAnxiety (generalized anxiety, adjustment/neurasthenia) · C

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GLP-1 receptor agonistFDA-approved

Semaglutide

A once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist with the deepest human evidence base of any incretin drug — approved for type 2 diabetes, chronic weight management, and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Best evidenceGlycemic control (type 2 diabetes) · A

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Synthetic heptapeptide (ACTH(4-7) analog)Status varies by jurisdiction

Semax

A heptapeptide nootropic derived from ACTH(4-10), registered as a medicine in Russia but not approved by the FDA or in most of the world. Human data exists but sits almost entirely in Russian-language literature that is hard to independently verify.

Best evidenceCognitive / nootropic effects · C

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GHRH (1-29) analogWithdrawn

Sermorelin

The 1-29 fragment of human GHRH — once an FDA-approved drug (Geref) for pediatric GH-deficiency testing, later discontinued for commercial reasons and now available only through compounding pharmacies.

Best evidenceStimulates GH release (diagnostic / pediatric GH deficiency) · B

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Synthetic peptide fragment (related to Thymosin beta-4)Research chemical

TB-500

A synthetic peptide marketed for tendon, muscle, and soft-tissue healing, based on an actin-binding fragment of the natural protein Thymosin beta-4. Sold as a research chemical with essentially no controlled human evidence.

Best evidenceTendon and ligament healing · D

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Stabilized GHRH analogFDA-approved

Tesamorelin

The one growth-hormone-axis peptide in this group with a genuine FDA approval — proven in large trials to reduce excess visceral abdominal fat in people with HIV-associated lipodystrophy.

Best evidenceVisceral adipose tissue reduction (HIV lipodystrophy) · A

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Naturally occurring 43-amino-acid actin-binding peptideInvestigational

Thymosin Beta-4

A naturally occurring human peptide central to actin regulation, cell migration, and wound repair. Unlike the research-chemical fragment TB-500, the full protein has reached investigational human trials — most notably as an eye-drop (RGN-259) — but it is not FDA-approved for any use.

Best evidenceCorneal / ophthalmic wound healing (neurotrophic keratopathy, dry eye) · C

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Dual GIP / GLP-1 receptor agonistFDA-approved

Tirzepatide

A once-weekly dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist that produced the largest weight-loss and HbA1c reductions yet seen in phase-3 trials of an approved incretin drug.

Best evidenceWeight loss · A

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