Peptide Reference

healing

BPC-157 is a synthetic pentadecapeptide (15 amino acids) based on a partial sequence identified in human gastric juice. In animal models it has been reported to accelerate healing of tendon, muscle, bone, skin, and gastrointestinal tissue, largely through pro-angiogenic and nitric-oxide-linked pathways. The entire evidence base is preclinical: as of 2026 there is no completed, published human randomized controlled trial, and BPC-157 is not approved by the FDA for any use.

skin

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine complexed with copper) found in human plasma, saliva, and urine, whose levels decline with age. It has genuine human evidence — but almost all of it is topical and cosmetic: small controlled facial-skin trials report improvements in firmness, thickness, fine lines, and wrinkles. Its broader regenerative and gene-modulating effects are shown mainly in cell-culture and animal studies. GHK-Cu is regulated as a cosmetic ingredient, not an FDA-approved drug.

metabolic

Retatrutide (LY3437943) is an investigational once-weekly injectable that activates three metabolic receptors at once — GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon. Unlike most peptides in the biohacker space, it has published human randomized controlled trials: a Phase 2 obesity trial reported least-squares mean weight loss up to 24.2% at 48 weeks on the 12 mg dose, and a Phase 2a liver-fat trial reported large reductions in liver fat. As of 2026 it remains investigational and is not FDA-approved; Phase 3 trials are ongoing.

healing

TB-500 is a synthetic peptide marketed as a version of thymosin β4 (Tβ4), a naturally occurring 43-amino-acid actin-sequestering protein involved in cell migration, angiogenesis, and tissue repair. Nearly all of the regenerative evidence comes from animal and cell-culture studies of Tβ4; the injectable TB-500 fragment sold in the research-chemical market has no published human randomized controlled trial. It is not FDA-approved, and thymosin-β4 and its derivatives are prohibited in sport by anti-doping authorities.