All peptides
82 peptides with a published record, grouped by how they are marketed and studied. Every record carries an evidence grade, the current FDA and WADA status, and numbered primary sources. Read the methodology for how grades are assigned. Premixed products sold under nicknames such as GLOW, KLOW, and the Wolverine stack are covered ingredient by ingredient in peptide blends explained.
Coverage by evidence grade
| Evidence grade | Peptides |
|---|---|
| Evidence: Human RCT evidence | 53 |
| Evidence: Human observational evidence | 11 |
| Evidence: Animal-only evidence | 18 |
GLP-1 and incretin agonists
Incretin-based peptides for weight management and type 2 diabetes. This cluster has the deepest human trial record and the most active compounding and shortage history.
Semaglutide
FDA approved GLP-1 agonist with about 15% average weight loss in a 68 week RCT and proven cardiovascular benefit.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedTirzepatide
FDA approved weekly GIP and GLP-1 drug with 20.9% average weight loss at 15 mg in a 72 week randomized trial; beat semaglutide head to head.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedLiraglutide
First daily GLP-1 drug: FDA approved since 2010, about 8% weight loss at 3 mg over 56 weeks, proven heart benefit, now available as a generic.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedRetatrutide
Investigational triple agonist, nicknamed reta or GLP-3, with 24.2% weight loss at 48 weeks in phase 2 and 28.3% in a phase 3 topline; not FDA approved.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Not eligible for compoundingCagrilintide
Experimental weekly copy of the appetite hormone amylin: 10.8% weight loss alone at 26 weeks and 20.4% with semaglutide at 68 weeks; not FDA approved.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Not eligible for compoundingDulaglutide
FDA approved weekly GLP-1 drug for type 2 diabetes that cut heart attacks, strokes, and heart deaths by 12% over 5.4 years in REWIND; not for weight loss.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedExenatide
The first GLP-1 drug, FDA approved in 2005; lowers HbA1c (3 month blood sugar) 0.8 to 1.9 points with 2 to 4 kg weight loss; no proven heart benefit.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedSurvodutide
Investigational glucagon/GLP-1 dual agonist: 13% weight loss at 76 weeks in phase 3 and strong liver (MASH) data, but not FDA approved.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Not eligible for compoundingMazdutide
GLP-1/glucagon dual agonist with 14% weight loss at 48 weeks in a Chinese phase 3 trial and 18% at 16 mg in a US phase 2; not FDA approved.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Not eligible for compounding
Tissue repair and healing
Peptides studied for tendon, ligament, muscle, gut, and skin repair. Most evidence is in animals; regulatory status changed for several in 2026.
BPC-157
A 15 amino acid peptide with strong animal healing data, no randomized human trial in PubMed, and a shifting FDA compounding status.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Under FDA reviewTB-500 (thymosin beta-4)
Copy or fragment of the repair protein thymosin beta-4: strong animal data, small human trials of the full protein, no trial of injected TB-500; WADA banned.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Under FDA reviewGHK-Cu
Copper binding three amino acid peptide with decades of skin and wound data: lawful and well studied in skin cosmetics, unapproved and untested as an injection.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026)KPV
Anti-inflammatory fragment of the hormone alpha-MSH; mouse colitis data, no human trial; recommended for FDA's compounding list in July 2026, rule pending.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Under FDA reviewPEG-MGF
PEG-coated fragment of a muscle form of the growth factor IGF-1: cell and mouse data only, no human trial of the peptide, and named on WADA's banned list.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026)ARA-290 (cibinetide)
Erythropoietin derived peptide with small placebo controlled trials in sarcoidosis and diabetic neuropathy; investigational, not approved, WADA prohibited.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Not eligible for compoundingIGF-1 LR3
Lab research version of the growth factor IGF-1, 2 to 3 times more potent than IGF-1 in rats; no human study, not FDA approved, banned by WADA under S2.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledFollistatin-344
Protein that blocks myostatin, the body's muscle growth brake: big gains in mice and monkeys; human data only from gene therapy, not injections; WADA banned.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledACE-031 (ramatercept)
A myostatin blocking fusion protein that grew lean mass in a small human trial but was abandoned after bleeding side effects in boys with DMD.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Unscheduled
Longevity and mitochondrial
Mitochondrial-derived and other peptides marketed for aging. Human evidence is thin and most compounds are not eligible for compounding.
Epitalon
4 amino acid peptide from a pineal gland extract: telomere and lifespan data in cells and mice, small non-randomized Russian human reports, not FDA approved.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Under FDA reviewMOTS-c
A 16 amino acid peptide coded by mitochondrial DNA that improves metabolism and exercise capacity in mice; human data limited to blood levels and genetics.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Under FDA reviewHumanin
A 24 amino acid peptide coded by mitochondrial DNA, protective in cells and rodents and tied to blood levels in people; no human treatment trials.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledSS-31 (elamipretide)
Mitochondria targeted peptide FDA approved in 2025 as Forzinity for rare Barth syndrome, after a large mitochondrial muscle disease RCT missed its main goal.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedNAD+
A coenzyme, not a peptide, whose precursors raise blood NAD+ in human RCTs; clinical benefits and IV NAD+ itself remain largely unproven.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Under FDA reviewFOXO4-DRI
A senolytic peptide that clears senescent cells and restored fitness, fur, and kidney function in aged mice; no human data exist.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledThymalin
A Russian calf thymus peptide extract used to adjust the immune system, with decades of non-randomized Russian reports and no FDA review.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledCarnosine
A natural muscle dipeptide with small human RCTs showing modest glycemic and waist benefits; a lawful supplement, not a drug.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledGlutathione
The body's main antioxidant tripeptide; one RCT shows oral doses raise body stores, clinical benefit is unproven, and IV use is compounded pending an FDA rule.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Under FDA review
Cognitive and neuroprotective
Nootropic and neuroprotective peptides, several originating from Russian research programs and not approved in the United States.
Semax
Nasal peptide registered in Russia; rodent brain growth factor data and open label Russian stroke trials; not FDA approved; recommended for compounding in 2026.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: Under FDA reviewSelank
Anti-anxiety nasal peptide registered in Russia, with small open label trials against a benzodiazepine; not FDA approved and not on FDA advisers' 2026 list.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026)Dihexa
Oral lab-made relative of the brain peptide angiotensin IV: rat memory data from one lab, a retracted mechanism paper, no human trials, no FDA approval.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026)Cerebrolysin
Porcine brain peptide mixture with several RCTs in stroke and dementia, mixed and low certainty results, approved in some countries but not by FDA.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledP21
Lab-made peptide mimicking part of CNTF, a protein that keeps nerve cells alive; mouse and rat memory and Alzheimer data; no human studies of any kind.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledNoopept
A dipeptide-like memory drug approved in Russia, with small open-label human studies, no placebo-controlled RCT indexed in English, and no FDA review.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledPinealon
Three amino acid peptide from Russia's Khavinson bioregulator family, sold there as a brain supplement; rat and cell data only, no controlled human trial.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Unscheduled
Sexual health and reproductive
Melanocortin agonists, gonadotropin-axis peptides, and fertility hormones. Includes FDA-approved products and unapproved research compounds.
PT-141 (bremelanotide)
FDA approved (Vyleesi, 2019) for low sexual desire in premenopausal women; effect is small and nausea affects about 40% of users.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedKisspeptin-10
Fragment of a brain hormone that raises LH and testosterone in small human studies; still on FDA's 503A Category 2 safety risk list, so it cannot be compounded.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: Not eligible for compoundingOxytocin
FDA approved injectable (Pitocin) for labor and postpartum bleeding; intranasal use for bonding, libido, or autism rests on small, mixed trials.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedMelanotan II
Unapproved tanning and libido injection with two tiny 1990s erection trials, case reports of melanoma and prolonged erections, and no lawful source.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026)Melanotan I (afamelanotide)
FDA approved implant (Scenesse, 2019) that lets people with erythropoietic protoporphyria tolerate sunlight; not approved or sold for tanning.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedGonadorelin
Native GnRH: proven when pumped in pulses for hypothalamic infertility, unstudied as the 2 to 3 times weekly TRT add-on clinics now sell.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedHCG (human chorionic gonadotropin)
FDA approved hormone for infertility and male hypogonadism; useless for weight loss and no longer compoundable since it became a biologic in 2020.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approved
Metabolic and growth hormone axis
Growth hormone secretagogues, IGF analogs, and metabolic hormones. WADA status matters here: most are prohibited in tested sport.
Tesamorelin
FDA approved lab-made growth hormone releasing hormone (Egrifta, 2010) that cuts deep belly fat about 15% in HIV lipodystrophy and cut liver fat in a trial.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedSermorelin
Formerly FDA approved piece of growth hormone releasing hormone (Geref, withdrawn 2009 for business reasons); small trials show higher GH and IGF-1.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Regulatory status unknownIpamorelin
Growth hormone releaser acting on the hunger hormone (ghrelin) receptor; raised GH in animals and one small study in men; its only randomized trial failed.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026)CJC-1295
Long acting lab-made growth hormone releasing hormone: small randomized trials raised GH 2 to 10 fold and IGF-1 1.5 to 3 fold per dose; no lawful compounding.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026)GHRP-2
Lab-made peptide that triggers growth hormone through the hunger hormone (ghrelin) receptor; approved only as a diagnostic test in Japan; WADA prohibited.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: Not eligible for compoundingGHRP-6
Original lab-made growth hormone releasing peptide: raises GH and hunger in small human studies; never approved; on an FDA compounding risk list; WADA banned.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: Not eligible for compoundingHexarelin
Potent lab-made growth hormone releaser with 1990s human data; the GH response fades with repeated use; never approved anywhere; WADA prohibited.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledMK-677 (ibutamoren)
Oral ghrelin mimetic with real RCTs: raises IGF-1 and lean mass modestly, raises glucose and appetite, a heart failure signal stopped development. Not approved.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Not eligible for compoundingAOD-9604
Growth hormone fragment that raised fat burning in obese mice; no human trial in PubMed shows weight loss; FDA nomination withdrawn; banned by WADA.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026)Tesofensine
Not a peptide: an oral triple reuptake inhibitor that produced about 10% placebo adjusted weight loss over 24 weeks in a phase 2 RCT. Not FDA approved.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Unscheduled5-Amino-1MQ
Not a peptide: an oral blocker of NNMT, an enzyme overactive in fat tissue, that cut fat in obese mice; no human trial published; not approved or compoundable.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledAdipotide
Experimental peptide that kills blood vessels feeding white fat; 11% weight loss in obese monkeys with kidney damage; no human results published.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledSetmelanotide
FDA approved hunger-pathway (MC4R) drug for rare genetic obesity (POMC, PCSK1, LEPR, Bardet-Biedl) and acquired hypothalamic obesity; not for common obesity.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedPramlintide
FDA approved lab-made amylin used with mealtime insulin; lowers HbA1c about 0.3 to 0.4 points more than placebo, modest weight loss, boxed low sugar warning.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedInsulin
The original peptide drug: FDA approved since 1923, essential in type 1 diabetes, proven to cut complications by 25 to 76%; WADA banned without an exemption.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedGlucagon
FDA approved rescue hormone for severe low blood sugar; injection, nasal powder, autoinjector, and dasiglucagon restore glucose in about 10 to 15 minutes.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approved
Immune and antimicrobial
Thymic peptides, antimicrobial peptides, and immune modulators.
Thymosin alpha-1
Immune modulating thymus peptide approved abroad (not the US) for hepatitis B and as a vaccine booster; mixed sepsis trials; FDA nomination withdrawn.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026)Thymulin
Zinc dependent thymus hormone (9 amino acids) with 1980s rheumatoid arthritis trials and rodent anti-inflammatory data; never approved, never nominated to FDA.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: UnscheduledLL-37
The only human cathelicidin, a germ-killing peptide. A skin gel had two small leg ulcer RCTs; no human data for injections. Off FDA Category 2 since April 2026.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Removed from Category 2 (Apr 2026)VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide)
Natural nerve signaling peptide; small trials in lung artery hypertension and COVID-19 breathing failure showed no benefit; not FDA approved; FDA Category 1.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Under FDA reviewPNC-27
A lab-stage anticancer peptide tested only in lab-dish cells and mice; no human trials; FDA has warned patients not to use PNC-27 products sold online.
Evidence: Animal-only evidenceRegulatory: Unscheduled
Other peptides
Approved hormones, oncology and endocrine peptides, and compounds that do not fit a marketing cluster.
DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide)
A 9 amino acid peptide with small, mixed 1980s insomnia trials; off FDA's Category 2 risk list since April 2026 but rejected by FDA advisers in July 2026.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: Not eligible for compoundingTeriparatide
FDA approved daily osteoporosis injection that cut new spine fractures by 65% in its pivotal trial and beat risedronate head to head.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedAbaloparatide
FDA approved daily osteoporosis injection that cut new spine fractures by 86% versus placebo (a dummy injection) in the 2,463 patient ACTIVE trial.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedOctreotide
FDA approved since 1988 for acromegaly and carcinoid syndrome; the randomized PROMID trial showed it slows midgut neuroendocrine tumor growth (HR 0.34).
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedLanreotide
FDA approved monthly copy of the hormone somatostatin for acromegaly and neuroendocrine tumors; halved tumor progression risk in the CLARINET trial (HR 0.47).
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedLeuprolide
FDA approved since 1985; after a brief surge it shuts down testosterone or estrogen; standard therapy for prostate cancer, endometriosis, and early puberty.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedTriptorelin
FDA approved depot shot that shuts off sex hormones, for advanced prostate cancer (2000) and early puberty (2017); matched leuprolide in a 284 patient trial.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedDegarelix
FDA approved GnRH blocker for advanced prostate cancer: castrate testosterone in 3 days with no flare, held in 97 to 98% at 1 year in a 610 patient trial.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedVasopressin
Natural pituitary hormone, FDA approved as an ICU drug to raise blood pressure in shock; the 778 patient VASST trial found no survival gain over norepinephrine.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedDesmopressin
FDA approved since 1978 for central diabetes insipidus, bleeding disorders, bedwetting, and nighttime urination; boxed warning for low blood sodium.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedCalcitonin
FDA approved salmon calcitonin for Paget disease, high blood calcium, and osteoporosis; weak fracture data and a 2013 cancer signal restricted its use.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedLinaclotide
FDA approved capsule for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) and chronic constipation; about 34% respond versus 14% to 21% on placebo.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedZiconotide
FDA approved non-opioid painkiller infused into spinal fluid for severe chronic pain; works for a minority; boxed warning for psychiatric effects.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedEnfuvirtide
FDA approved HIV injection that stops the virus entering cells, for drug-resistant HIV; cuts viral load an extra 0.8 to 0.9 log10 (6 to 8 fold) at 24 weeks.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedVosoritide
FDA approved daily injection for achondroplasia that increases growth velocity by about 1.6 cm per year over placebo in children.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedTerlipressin
FDA approved hospital IV drug for hepatorenal syndrome (kidney failure from advanced liver disease); reverses it in about 32% versus 17% with albumin alone.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedCosyntropin
FDA approved diagnostic peptide for the ACTH stimulation test, which checks whether the adrenal glands make enough cortisol; prohibited by WADA in sport.
Evidence: Human observational evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedGanirelix
FDA approved daily IVF injection that blocks early ovulation; live birth rates equal to older protocols with about 40% less ovarian overstimulation.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedCetrorelix
FDA approved IVF injection (2000) that prevents early ovulation; pregnancy rates similar to older protocols with fewer cases of ovarian overstimulation.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approvedSecretin
FDA approved diagnostic peptide for pancreatic function and gastrinoma testing; randomized trials found no benefit in autism.
Evidence: Human RCT evidenceRegulatory: FDA approved
Educational reference, not medical advice. Read the full disclaimer and talk to a licensed provider before starting, stopping, or combining any treatment.