News / Peptide guides

Every peptide gets a researched guide.

24 source-backed peptide guides connect identity, human and preclinical evidence, research questions, FDA status, sport status, and primary sources.

How evidence is graded

Identity

The short answer: what the entity is, its aliases, and what cannot be treated as equivalent.

Evidence and intent

Human findings, preclinical signals, research uses, approval questions, and common long-tail searches.

Decision boundaries

FDA and WADA status remain separate from evidence depth, access, and personal suitability.

ALL PEPTIDE GUIDES

Start with the exact entity.

Each guide is assembled from its reviewed evidence record—not transferred from a related fragment, class, route, or product.

01Recovery

BPC-157

A synthetic 15-amino-acid research peptide with extensive preclinical claims but little interpretable human efficacy evidence.

Human: Very limitedPreclinical: Extensive preclinical

02Weight & Metabolism

Retatrutide

An investigational triple GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptor agonist in late-stage metabolic research.

Human: Late-stage investigationalPreclinical: Mechanism supported

03Growth Hormone

Tesamorelin

A growth hormone-releasing hormone analog with an FDA-approved use for a specific HIV-associated lipodystrophy population.

Human: Approved indicationPreclinical: Mechanism supported

04Longevity

MOTS-c

A mitochondrial-derived signaling peptide studied mainly in cells, animals, and small human physiology experiments.

Human: Physiology onlyPreclinical: Strong preclinical interest

05Recovery

TB-500

A marketed name for a synthetic thymosin-beta-4-related fragment; product identity and evidence are often conflated with full-length thymosin beta-4.

Human: Very limitedPreclinical: Related preclinical work

06Growth Hormone

Ipamorelin

A synthetic ghrelin-receptor agonist studied as a growth hormone secretagogue, without an FDA-approved therapeutic product.

Human: Early human researchPreclinical: Mechanism established

07Weight & Metabolism

Semaglutide

A GLP-1 receptor agonist used in FDA-approved medicines with a large randomized human evidence base.

Human: Large clinical programPreclinical: Well characterized

08Weight & Metabolism

Tirzepatide

A dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist used in FDA-approved medicines for defined metabolic indications.

Human: Large clinical programPreclinical: Well characterized

09Growth Hormone

Sermorelin

A synthetic fragment of growth hormone-releasing hormone with historical clinical use and no current FDA-approved drug product.

Human: Historical human usePreclinical: Mechanism established

10Longevity

SS-31 / Elamipretide

A mitochondria-targeted peptide known as elamipretide; FDA accelerated approval is limited to a specific Barth syndrome indication.

Human: Narrow accelerated approvalPreclinical: Extensive mitochondrial research

11Growth Hormone

CJC-1295

A long-acting growth hormone-releasing hormone analog studied in early human pharmacology research.

Human: Early human pharmacologyPreclinical: Mechanism established

12Immune / Inflammation

KPV

A tripeptide fragment derived from alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and studied primarily in preclinical inflammation models.

Human: Preclinical evidence onlyPreclinical: Inflammation models

13Recovery

GHK-Cu

A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide studied in tissue remodeling, skin, and wound biology.

Human: Small topical studiesPreclinical: Broad laboratory interest

14Immune / Inflammation

Thymosin Alpha-1

A synthetic version of a thymic peptide investigated as an immune modulator and used clinically in some countries outside the United States.

Human: Substantial but mixed researchPreclinical: Established immune biology

15Recovery

Thymosin Beta-4

A naturally occurring actin-binding peptide studied in tissue repair and regenerative biology.

Human: Early clinical researchPreclinical: Extensive repair biology

16Immune / Inflammation

LL-37

A human antimicrobial peptide involved in innate immune signaling and host defense.

Human: No established therapeutic programPreclinical: Extensive innate-immune research

17Weight & Metabolism

AOD-9604

A synthetic fragment of human growth hormone investigated for metabolic effects, with limited human evidence.

Human: Negative development signalPreclinical: Metabolic models

18Longevity

Epitalon

A synthetic tetrapeptide associated with aging research, supported mainly by limited and difficult-to-verify clinical literature.

Human: Very limited and uncertainPreclinical: Aging-model research

19Cognition

Semax

A synthetic ACTH-derived peptide investigated for neurologic and cognitive effects, with limited generalizable human evidence.

Human: Limited regional trialsPreclinical: Neurobiology models

20Cognition

Selank

A synthetic tuftsin analog studied for neurobehavioral effects, with a small and geographically concentrated evidence base.

Human: Small regional studiesPreclinical: Neurobehavioral models

21Cognition

DSIP

A small endogenous research peptide associated with sleep physiology, with uncertain therapeutic relevance.

Human: Very small historical studiesPreclinical: Uncertain physiology

22Sexual Health

PT-141 / Bremelanotide

A melanocortin receptor agonist; bremelanotide is FDA approved for one narrowly defined indication under the Vyleesi label.

Human: Approved narrow indicationPreclinical: Established melanocortin pharmacology

23Other

Melanotan II

An unapproved synthetic melanocortin analog promoted for tanning and sexual effects despite important safety uncertainty.

Human: Case reports, not efficacy trialsPreclinical: Melanocortin activity

24Other

Glutathione

An endogenous tripeptide involved in cellular redox chemistry; treatment claims require route- and formulation-specific evidence review.

Human: Route-specific human researchPreclinical: Established redox biology