Peptide Monographs

AOD-9604

AOD-9604 is a synthetic peptide corresponding to amino acids 177-191 of human growth hormone. It has been investigated for fat metabolism in animals but has no established human efficacy for weight loss and is not approved by major regulators.

immune

ARA-290

ARA-290 (cibinetide) is an 11-amino-acid peptide that selectively activates the innate repair receptor. It has shown promise in Phase 2 trials for neuropathy and sarcoidosis-related fatigue but is not yet approved.

skin

Argireline

Argireline is a cosmetic peptide that inhibits SNARE complex formation and is marketed as a topical alternative to botulinum toxin for expression lines. Human cosmetic studies suggest modest wrinkle-reducing effects.

healing

BPC-157

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.

cognitive

Cerebrolysin

Cerebrolysin is a parenteral peptide preparation derived from porcine brain tissue. It contains neurotrophic peptides and is approved in several countries for stroke recovery and dementia, though evidence is mixed and it is not FDA-approved.

growth

CJC-1295

CJC-1295 is a synthetic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog that stimulates endogenous growth hormone release. It is widely marketed in the gray market but has no approved medical use and no published human randomized controlled trials supporting the marketed claims.

cognitive

Dihexa

Dihexa is a small peptide analog of angiotensin IV designed to enhance cognition and synaptogenesis. It is highly active in animal models but has no published human clinical trials and is not approved.

cognitive

DSIP

DSIP is a nonapeptide originally isolated from rabbit cerebral venous blood. It has been studied for sleep regulation, stress resistance, and analgesia, but human clinical evidence is weak and it is not approved.

metabolic

Dulaglutide

Dulaglutide is a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes. It lowers HbA1c and has proven cardiovascular benefit in people with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease or risk factors.

longevity

Epitalon

Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide derived from epithalamin, a pineal-gland peptide. It is marketed for longevity and telomere lengthening but the human evidence is limited to small Russian studies and animal experiments.

growth

Follistatin-344

Follistatin-344 is a gene-therapy vector and research peptide that increases follistatin, a myostatin inhibitor. It has shown dramatic muscle growth in animal models but no human clinical validation and significant safety concerns.

longevity

FOXO4-DRI

FOXO4-DRI is a synthetic D-retro-inverso peptide designed to induce selective apoptosis of senescent cells. It extended healthspan in aged mice but has no human clinical data.

skin

GHK-Cu

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.

growth

GHRP-2

GHRP-2 is a synthetic growth hormone secretagogue that activates the ghrelin receptor to stimulate GH release. It has been studied in human pharmacology trials but is not approved for any therapeutic use.

growth

GHRP-6

GHRP-6 is a first-generation growth hormone secretagogue that strongly stimulates appetite and GH release via the ghrelin receptor. It has no approved medical use and is prohibited in sport.

sexual

Gonadorelin

Gonadorelin is the natural gonadotropin-releasing hormone that stimulates the pituitary to release LH and FSH. It is approved for diagnostic evaluation of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function and is used in fertility treatments.

growth

Hexarelin

Hexarelin is a potent synthetic growth hormone secretagogue that activates the ghrelin receptor. It is more potent than GHRP-6 in animal models but has not been approved for any therapeutic use.

metabolic

HGH Fragment 176-191

HGH Fragment 176-191 is a synthetic peptide derived from the C-terminal region of human growth hormone. Preclinical studies suggest it may influence fat metabolism without some of hGH's systemic growth effects, but human evidence for weight loss is lacking and it is not approved.

longevity

Humanin

Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived peptide with cytoprotective effects in animal and cell models. It is studied for roles in aging, Alzheimer's disease, and metabolism but has no approved therapeutic use.

growth

IGF-1 DES

IGF-1 DES is a truncated analog of insulin-like growth factor 1 missing the first three N-terminal amino acids. It has higher receptor affinity in vitro but no human clinical evidence and no approved use.

growth

IGF-1 LR3

IGF-1 LR3 is a synthetic analog of insulin-like growth factor 1 with reduced binding to IGF-binding proteins and a longer half-life. It is marketed for muscle growth but has no approved medical use and no human RCT evidence supporting safety or efficacy.

growth

Ipamorelin

Ipamorelin is a synthetic growth hormone secretagogue that selectively stimulates the ghrelin/growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHS-R1a). It is popular in the research-chemical market but has no approved medical use and limited human data.

sexual

Kisspeptin

Kisspeptin is a hypothalamic peptide that controls reproductive hormone secretion by stimulating GnRH neurons. It is being studied for infertility, hypogonadism, and reproductive disorders.

healing

Larazotide Acetate

Larazotide acetate is an 8-amino-acid peptide developed as a tight-junction regulator for celiac disease. It has been evaluated in multiple randomized controlled trials but has not yet received FDA approval.

metabolic

Liraglutide

Liraglutide is a once-daily GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes (Victoza) and, at a higher dose, for chronic weight management (Saxenda). RCTs show mean weight loss of roughly 8–10% and reduced cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes.

healing

LL-37

LL-37 is the only known human cathelicidin, an antimicrobial peptide with broad activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses, plus immunomodulatory and wound-healing properties. It is studied in infectious disease, inflammatory conditions, and cancer biology but is not approved as a drug.

skin

Matrixyl

Matrixyl is a cosmetic peptide complex containing palmitoyl pentapeptide-4. Small human cosmetic trials suggest modest improvements in fine lines and wrinkles when used topically.

skin

Matrixyl 3000

Matrixyl 3000 is a cosmetic peptide combination of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7. It is marketed to reduce wrinkles and improve skin firmness through collagen stimulation and anti-inflammatory effects.

sexual

Melanotan II

Melanotan II is a synthetic melanocortin peptide that darkens skin and has been studied for erectile dysfunction. It is not approved by major regulators and carries significant safety concerns.

growth

MGF

MGF is a splice variant of IGF-1 that is expressed in response to mechanical stress and muscle damage. It is studied for muscle repair but has no approved therapeutic use and no human clinical trials supporting injection.

longevity

MOTS-c

MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide that regulates metabolism and appears to improve insulin sensitivity and physical performance in animal models. Human clinical data are preliminary.

sexual

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a peptide hormone critical for childbirth, lactation, and social bonding. It is FDA-approved for obstetric indications and is studied intranasally for social and psychiatric conditions, though evidence for the latter is mixed.

cognitive

P21

P21 is a small peptide derived from the ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) sequence. It has shown neurotrophic and cognitive effects in animal models of Alzheimer's disease but has no human clinical data.

sexual

PT-141

Bremelanotide (PT-141) is a melanocortin receptor agonist approved for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. It acts on central sexual desire pathways rather than vascular mechanisms.

metabolic

Retatrutide

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.

cognitive

Selank

Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide with anxiolytic and nootropic properties in preclinical models. It is approved in Russia for generalized anxiety disorder but has not been reviewed by the FDA.

metabolic

Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes (Ozempic) and chronic weight management (Wegovy). Large randomized controlled trials show substantial HbA1c reductions and mean weight loss of roughly 12–15% at 68 weeks in adults with obesity or overweight.

cognitive

Semax

Semax is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from ACTH 4-10. It is approved in Russia for certain cerebrovascular and cognitive conditions but has not undergone FDA review and lacks large Western RCTs.

growth

Sermorelin

Sermorelin is a 29-amino-acid GHRH analog that stimulates endogenous growth hormone release. It was FDA-approved for diagnosing and treating growth hormone deficiency in children, but the branded product was discontinued in the United States. It is still used off-label and in compounding.

metabolic

Setmelanotide

Setmelanotide is an MC4R agonist approved for chronic weight management in patients aged 6 years and older with obesity due to pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1), or leptin receptor (LEPR) deficiency. It addresses a specific biological cause of obesity rather than general appetite suppression.

healing

TB-500

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.

growth

Tesamorelin

Tesamorelin is a GHRH analog approved to reduce excess abdominal fat in HIV-infected patients with lipodystrophy. It is the only GH secretagogue peptide approved for an adult body-composition indication in the United States.

immune

Thymalin

Thymalin is a thymus-derived polypeptide preparation studied for immune modulation and aging. It is approved in some countries but not in the United States, and robust clinical evidence is limited.

healing

Thymosin Alpha-1

Thymosin alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid peptide derived from prothymosin alpha. It has been studied as an immune modulator and is approved in several countries for conditions such as chronic hepatitis B and C and as a vaccine adjuvant. Human evidence exists but is heterogeneous; it is not FDA-approved.

metabolic

Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes (Mounjaro) and chronic weight management (Zepbound). Phase 3 trials report mean weight loss up to approximately 21% at the highest maintenance dose over 72 weeks.

other