Reference · Evidence
Peptide evidence tiers
All 105 compounds in this catalog, sorted by the strongest evidence that actually exists for them rather than by how they are marketed. 103 carry a tier; the remaining 2 are not drug candidates and are listed separately.
Approved medicine
20 compounds
A medicines regulator has licensed a product built on this compound for a named condition.
There is a drug label: an indication, a population, a dose form, warnings, and a manufacturer answerable for the contents. Approval is per-product and per-country, and says nothing about material bought outside the regulated supply chain.
| Compound | Class | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Alprostadil | Prostaglandin E1 | A prostaglandin E1 analog (a vasodilator) used medically for erectile dysfunction and certain circulatory conditions. |
| Botulinum toxin | Neurotoxin | A potent neurotoxin that blocks acetylcholine release at nerve terminals; used medically and cosmetically to relax targeted muscles. |
| Dulaglutide | GLP-1 receptor agonist | A long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist (marketed as Trulicity) used for type 2 diabetes; note vendor 'research' vials are not the approved product. |
| EPO (Erythropoietin) | Erythropoiesis-stimulating agent | A hormone that stimulates red blood cell production; used medically for anemia and notoriously misused (and WADA-banned) in endurance sport. |
| HCG | Gonadotropin hormone | Hormone with LH-like activity used in regulated reproductive and endocrine medicine, and discussed more broadly in wellness and performance contexts. |
| HGH 191AA (Somatropin) | Recombinant human growth hormone | Recombinant human growth hormone with the same 191–amino acid sequence as endogenous GH, used in regulated settings for growth hormone–related conditions. |
| HMG | Gonadotropin preparation | Menotropins: a gonadotropin preparation with FSH- and LH-like activity used in regulated fertility and endocrine settings. |
| Insulin | Peptide hormone | The essential peptide hormone regulating blood glucose; a prescription medication with serious hypoglycemia risk if misused. |
| L-Carnitine | Amino acid derivative | An amino acid derivative involved in transporting fatty acids into mitochondria for energy; used in metabolic and fat-metabolism contexts. |
| Liraglutide | GLP-1 receptor agonist | A daily GLP-1 receptor agonist (marketed as Victoza/Saxenda) for diabetes and weight; vendor 'research' vials are not the approved product. |
| MT-I | Melanocortin-1 receptor agonist | Synthetic alpha-MSH analog (afamelanotide) approved as Scenesse for erythropoietic protoporphyria and discussed more broadly for skin pigmentation. |
| Oxytocin | Peptide hormone | Endogenous peptide hormone involved in uterine contraction, lactation, and social behavior, with approved obstetric uses. |
| PT-141 | Melanocortin receptor agonist | Melanocortin receptor agonist approved as Vyleesi for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. |
| Semaglutide | GLP-1 receptor agonist | GLP-1 receptor agonist commonly discussed for glycemic control and weight management. |
| SS-31 | Mitochondria-targeted peptide | Mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide (elamipretide) with an FDA accelerated approval in Barth syndrome and a clearly negative phase 3 trial elsewhere. |
| Teriparatide | PTH analog | A recombinant fragment of parathyroid hormone (marketed as Forteo) used medically to build bone in severe osteoporosis. |
| Tesamorelin | GHRH analog | Synthetic growth hormone–releasing hormone analog approved in some regions for HIV-associated lipodystrophy and studied more broadly in metabolic research. |
| Tirzepatide | Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist | Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist frequently discussed for type 2 diabetes and obesity. |
| Triptorelin Acetate | GnRH agonist | A gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist used medically for hormone-sensitive conditions; continuous use down-regulates the reproductive axis. |
| Vitamin B12 | Vitamin | Essential water-soluble vitamin involved in hematologic and neurologic function, given by injection when deficiency or absorption problems are present. |
Clinical-stage
25 compounds
Randomised or phase 2–3 human trial data exists, but no regulator has approved it.
Somebody has run a controlled study in people and published numbers you can argue with. The compound may go on to approval, may fail on safety, or may be abandoned for commercial reasons — most candidates at this stage never reach a label.
| Compound | Class | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| ACE-031 | Myostatin/activin inhibitor (ACVR2B trap) | An experimental soluble activin receptor (ACVR2B) fusion protein studied for inhibiting myostatin and activin to promote muscle mass. |
| AICAR | AMPK activator | An AMPK-activating compound studied as an exercise mimetic in metabolic and endurance research. |
| AOD-9604 | Growth hormone fragment | Synthetic peptide derived from the C-terminal portion of human growth hormone, discussed for potential effects on fat metabolism. |
| Ara-290 | Erythropoietin-derived peptide | Peptide derived from erythropoietin (cibinetide) studied in small randomised trials for tissue-protective and anti-inflammatory effects. |
| Cagrilintide | Long-acting amylin analog | Long-acting amylin analog studied for chronic weight management, usually alongside a GLP-1 receptor agonist. |
| Cagrilintide + Semaglutide | Amylin analog + GLP-1 receptor agonist combination | Fixed-dose combination of an amylin analog and a GLP-1 receptor agonist studied for obesity and metabolic disease. |
| Cerebrolysin | Neuropeptide preparation | Injectable mixture of low-molecular-weight peptides and amino acids derived from porcine brain, used in some regions for neurologic indications. |
| CJC-1295 with DAC | Long-acting GHRH analog | Long-acting growth hormone–releasing hormone analog designed to extend GH and IGF-1 stimulation, discussed in experimental and wellness contexts. |
| DSIP | Sleep-related neuropeptide | Small peptide historically studied for effects on sleep and stress, now mostly of experimental and niche interest. |
| GHK-CU | Copper peptide | Naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide with a topical cosmetic evidence base for skin appearance and essentially no human safety data as an injectable. |
| GHRP-2 | Growth hormone–releasing peptide | Growth hormone–releasing peptide (pralmorelin) from an earlier generation of GH secretagogues, used as a diagnostic agent in some regions. |
| Glutathione | Antioxidant tripeptide | Endogenous tripeptide antioxidant given orally or parenterally in wellness and hepatology contexts, with mixed evidence. |
| Gonadorelin | GnRH analog | A gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog studied for stimulating LH and FSH release in reproductive and hormonal contexts. |
| Hexarelin | Growth hormone secretagogue | Potent growth hormone secretagogue from an earlier generation of GH-axis agents, now largely of historical and experimental interest. |
| KissPeptin-10 | Reproductive neuropeptide fragment | Peptide fragment of the kisspeptin family studied for its role in reproductive hormone signaling in endocrine and fertility research. |
| Mazdutide | GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist | Dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist studied for obesity and type 2 diabetes; approved in China and investigational elsewhere. |
| Melatonin | Hormone (pineal) | The pineal hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle; widely used as a sleep aid and studied for circadian and antioxidant effects. |
| MK-677 (Ibutamoren) | Growth hormone secretagogue | Orally active ghrelin-receptor agonist and growth hormone secretagogue studied for raising growth hormone and IGF-1. |
| MOTS-c | Mitochondrial-derived peptide | Mitochondrial-derived peptide studied for roles in metabolic regulation, insulin sensitivity, and cellular stress responses. |
| MT-II | Melanocortin receptor agonist | Synthetic melanocortin receptor agonist discussed in relation to tanning and sexual function, primarily in experimental and non-regulated contexts. |
| Retatrutide | Triple GIP/GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist | Investigational triple agonist targeting GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptors. |
| Sermorelin Acetate | GHRH analog | Synthetic growth hormone–releasing hormone analog, formerly marketed as Geref for diagnostic and paediatric growth use and now discussed in wellness settings. |
| Survodutide | GLP-1/glucagon dual receptor agonist | Investigational dual GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist studied for obesity and metabolic disease. |
| Thymosin Alpha-1 | Immunomodulating thymic peptide | Peptide derived from thymic proteins, discussed for immune-modulating effects and studied in selected infectious and oncologic contexts. |
| VIP (Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide) | Neuropeptide vasodilator | Endogenous neuropeptide involved in smooth muscle relaxation, vasodilation, and secretion; its synthetic form aviptadil has been trialled in serious illness. |
Preclinical
29 compounds
The evidence is animal or laboratory work only. No controlled human data.
Findings come from rodents, isolated tissue, or cell culture. This tier holds much of the healing-peptide market, where a striking rat result is often reported online as though it were a human one.
| Compound | Class | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 5-amino-1mq | NNMT inhibitor (small molecule) | Small-molecule NNMT inhibitor discussed in early-stage experimental metabolic and weight-related research. |
| Adipotide (FTPP) | Experimental pro-apoptotic peptide | Experimental targeted peptide studied in preclinical models for reducing fat tissue by acting on its blood supply. |
| B7-33 | Relaxin (H2) analog | A single-chain peptide derived from the hormone relaxin (H2), studied preclinically for anti-fibrotic effects in heart, lung, and kidney tissue. |
| BPC-157 | Synthetic peptide fragment | Synthetic peptide fragment often discussed for tissue healing and GI-related effects. |
| CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin | Growth hormone peptide blend | Vendor blend pairing a GHRH analog with a selective ghrelin-receptor agonist; the combination itself has never been tested in a published human trial. |
| CJC-1295 without DAC | GHRH analog | Shorter-acting GHRH analog (modified GRF 1-29) discussed for stimulating GH release without a long-acting DAC modification. |
| Dermorphin | Opioid peptide | Potent opioid-like peptide originally isolated from amphibian skin, occasionally discussed in experimental analgesia and performance contexts. |
| Dihexa | Nootropic peptide (angiotensin-derived) | An angiotensin IV-derived peptide studied preclinically for synaptogenesis and cognition via HGF/c-Met signaling. |
| Follistatin 344 | Myostatin-inhibiting protein | A follistatin variant studied for binding and inhibiting myostatin, a negative regulator of muscle growth. |
| FOXO4 | Senolytic peptide | Experimental peptide discussed in senolytic and cellular-aging research, studied almost entirely in preclinical settings. |
| GDF-8 (Myostatin) | Myostatin | Growth differentiation factor 8, the natural myostatin protein that limits muscle growth; studied as a research reagent and drug target. |
| GHRP-6 | Growth hormone–releasing peptide | Growth hormone–releasing peptide from the same family as GHRP-2, historically discussed for GH release and appetite stimulation. |
| HGH Fragment 176-191 | Growth hormone fragment | A C-terminal fragment of growth hormone studied for lipolytic (fat-loss) effects without growth hormone's growth signaling. |
| Humanin | Mitochondrial-derived peptide | A mitochondrial-derived peptide studied for cytoprotective and metabolic signaling in aging research. |
| IGF-1 LR3 | IGF-1 analog | Long-acting insulin-like growth factor-1 analog discussed in experimental growth-factor contexts, with no clinical trial literature. |
| IGF-DES | IGF-1 analog | Truncated insulin-like growth factor-1 analog discussed for localized growth-factor signaling in experimental settings. |
| Ipamorelin | Growth hormone secretagogue (ghrelin receptor agonist) | Selective growth hormone secretagogue and ghrelin-receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist whose corporate clinical program was discontinued. |
| KPV (Lysine–Proline–Valine) | Tripeptide fragment | Tripeptide fragment often discussed for anti-inflammatory and gut-related effects. |
| LL37 | Antimicrobial peptide (cathelicidin) | Human cathelicidin-derived peptide discussed for roles in innate immunity and tissue defense, largely in experimental contexts. |
| MGF (Mechano Growth Factor) | IGF-1 splice variant | Mechano growth factor, an IGF-1 splice variant (IGF-1Ec) produced by mechanically stressed muscle and studied for muscle repair. |
| NAD+ | Cellular cofactor | Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a central cellular cofactor discussed in metabolic, aging, and mitochondrial health research. |
| Orexin A | Neuropeptide (hypocretin-1) | A wake-promoting hypothalamic neuropeptide (hypocretin-1) that activates both orexin receptors (OX1R and OX2R); studied for arousal, appetite, and narcolepsy. |
| Orexin B | Neuropeptide (hypocretin-2) | A wake-promoting hypothalamic neuropeptide (hypocretin-2) that preferentially activates the OX2R receptor; less stable than orexin A and less studied. |
| P21 | Neurogenic peptide | A peptide studied preclinically for neurogenesis and cognitive effects (distinct from the p21 cell-cycle protein of the same name). |
| PE-22-28 | Spadin analog (neuro) | A synthetic analog of spadin studied preclinically as a fast-acting antidepressant candidate via TREK-1 potassium-channel blockade. |
| PEG-MGF | IGF-1 splice variant analog | Pegylated mechano growth factor analog discussed in experimental muscle and recovery contexts. |
| PNC-27 | Experimental anticancer peptide | An experimental peptide studied preclinically for selectively disrupting cancer-cell membranes via an HDM-2 interaction. |
| SLU-PP-322 | Small-molecule metabolic agonist | Experimental small molecule discussed in preclinical metabolic and mitochondrial research, with no human data. |
| TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4 fragment) | Thymosin beta-4 fragment | Product name covering the actin-binding fragment of thymosin beta-4 — and, in some vials, the full-length protein — discussed for tissue repair. |
Minimal evidence
29 compounds
Little or no independent peer-reviewed data exists in any species.
What literature there is tends to be small, old, single-group, from a single research lineage, or absent altogether. Blends and cosmetic products often land here because the combination has never been studied even where the ingredients have.
| Compound | Class | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| AHK-Cu | Copper peptide | A copper-binding tripeptide studied mainly in cosmetic/skin and hair contexts for signaling effects on tissue and follicles. |
| BPC-157 + GHK-Cu + KPV | Peptide blend | A vendor blend of BPC-157, GHK-Cu, and KPV combining repair, skin-signaling, and anti-inflammatory components; no dedicated trials. |
| BPC-157 + GHK-CU + TB500 | Peptide blend | Combination catalog entry bundling BPC-157, GHK-Cu, and TB-500 around tissue-repair and cosmetic themes; no dedicated trials. |
| BPC-157 + GHK-CU + TB500 + KPV | Peptide blend | Combination catalog entry bundling four peptides discussed for healing, cosmetic, and anti-inflammatory themes; no dedicated trials. |
| BPC-157 + TB500 | Peptide blend | Combination catalog entry pairing BPC-157 with TB-500, two peptides often discussed for tissue repair; no dedicated trials. |
| Bronchogen | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short peptide bioregulator studied in Russian research for respiratory/bronchial tissue; limited independent evidence. |
| Cardiogen | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short peptide bioregulator studied for cardiovascular/heart tissue; mostly older Russian research. |
| Cartalax | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short peptide bioregulator studied in the context of cartilage and joint tissue; limited evidence. |
| Chonluten | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short peptide bioregulator studied for respiratory epithelium and lung tissue; limited independent data. |
| Cortagen | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short peptide bioregulator studied for brain/cortex neuroprotection in Russian research; limited evidence. |
| Crystagen | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short peptide bioregulator studied for immune-system regulation; mostly older Russian research. |
| Epitalon | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | Synthetic tetrapeptide discussed in aging and longevity circles on the basis of limited, region-specific research. |
| Ipamorelin + Tesamorelin | Growth hormone peptide blend | A vendor blend pairing the GHRH analog tesamorelin with the selective secretagogue ipamorelin for complementary growth hormone signaling; no dedicated trials. |
| Lemon Bottle | Fat-dissolving injectable (lipolysis) | A cosmetic fat-dissolving (lipolysis) injectable — not a peptide — marketed with riboflavin, bromelain, and lecithin; not FDA/MHRA/CE approved. |
| Lipo-C with B vitamins | Lipotropic injectable | Injectable mixture of lipotropic agents and B vitamins marketed in wellness settings for energy and weight-related goals, with limited evidence. |
| Lipo-C without B vitamins | Lipotropic injectable | Injectable mixture of lipotropic agents without added B vitamins, marketed for metabolic or weight-related support. |
| Livagen | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short peptide bioregulator studied for liver tissue; mostly older Russian research, limited independent evidence. |
| Matrixyl | Cosmetic peptide | A cosmetic 'matrikine' peptide (palmitoyl pentapeptide) used topically in anti-aging skincare to signal collagen support. |
| Oligopeptide-10 | Cosmetic antimicrobial peptide | A synthetic cosmetic peptide (derived from the antimicrobial peptide granulysin) used topically in skincare for its antibacterial and skin-clarifying properties. |
| Pancragen | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short peptide bioregulator studied for pancreatic tissue; mostly older Russian research. |
| Pinealon | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | Short peptide complex marketed in Eastern European contexts as a neuroprotective peptide, with limited and region-specific evidence. |
| Prostamax | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short peptide bioregulator studied for prostate tissue; mostly older Russian research, limited evidence. |
| Selank | Anxiolytic peptide (tuftsin analog) | Synthetic peptide derived from tuftsin, discussed for anxiolytic and nootropic effects in experimental and regional clinical literature. |
| Semax | Nootropic peptide (ACTH fragment) | Synthetic heptapeptide discussed for neuroprotective and nootropic effects, studied mainly in Eastern European literature. |
| Semax + Selank | Nootropic peptide blend | A vendor blend of the nootropic Semax and the anxiolytic Selank, combining cognitive and anti-anxiety research peptides; no dedicated trials. |
| Snap-8 | Cosmetic peptide | Cosmetic peptide (acetyl octapeptide-3) used in topical formulations and discussed for softening the appearance of facial lines. |
| Testagen | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short peptide bioregulator studied for testicular/reproductive tissue; mostly older Russian research. |
| Thymalin | Thymic peptide extract | Thymic-derived peptide mixture historically used in some regions for immune modulation, now primarily of historical and experimental interest. |
| Vilon | Peptide bioregulator (Khavinson) | A short (Lys-Glu) peptide bioregulator studied for immune modulation and aging; mostly older Russian research. |
Not tiered
2 entries
These catalog entries carry no evidence tier. They are not peptide drug candidates with an efficacy claim to rank — they are materials that appear in the catalog for practical reasons — so placing them on a scale built for therapeutic evidence would be misleading rather than informative. They are shown here so that the four tiers above plus this list add up to the full catalog.
| Compound | Class | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| BAC water | Diluent | Sterile water containing a bacteriostatic preservative, supplied as a diluent for reconstituting compatible medications rather than as an active therapeutic. |
| Hyaluronic acid | Glycosaminoglycan | A naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan used in skin, joint, and cosmetic contexts for hydration and tissue support. |
What the tiers mean
Every compound page on this site carries one of four labels, assigned by a single question: what is the strongest evidence that exists for this compound in humans? Not the most enthusiastic evidence, not the most cited, not the most recent — the strongest. The tiers are deliberately coarse, because the distinctions that matter to a reader trying to calibrate a claim are coarse ones.
Approved medicine means a regulator has licensed a product for a named indication. Clinical-stage means controlled human trial data exists without approval. Preclinical means animal or in-vitro work only. Minimal evidence means little or no independent peer-reviewed data in any species. A compound is placed by what has been published, not by how plausible its mechanism sounds or how confidently it is sold.
The tiers describe evidence, not safety and not quality. A preclinical compound is not thereby dangerous, and an approved one is not thereby appropriate for any particular person — approval is a statement about a product and a population, made by a regulator, and it is answering a different question than this table is. Nor does a tier travel with a vial: material bought outside a regulated supply chain inherits none of the evidence behind the approved product it shares a name with.
Why the shape of this table is the point
Read the four counts together and they describe the market better than any individual page can. Roughly one compound in five here is an approved medicine. Rather more than half sit in the bottom two tiers, where the human evidence is either absent or too thin to argue from — and those are, disproportionately, the compounds discussed most enthusiastically online. That inversion is the single most useful thing this catalog records: attention and evidence are close to uncorrelated in this market, and sometimes point the opposite way.
Tiers also move. A compound leaves the clinical-stage tier by being approved or by being abandoned, and both happen regularly; several compounds documented here are the residue of programmes that ended for reasons that had nothing to do with whether they worked. A tier is a snapshot of the published record at the time of review, not a permanent verdict, and the compound pages carry the citations that justify each placement.
For the regulatory side of the same picture, see the approved peptides table. For how long these compounds persist once administered, see the half-life table — which documents values for a much smaller subset, for the same reason this table is bottom-heavy. Sourcing rules are set out in the editorial policy; this page is educational and not medical advice.