Compound Profiles

BPC-157, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for BPC-157: 50+ preclinical studies, 1 human pilot (Chang 2014, n=12), 1 active Phase trial, FDA removed from 503A list in 2023.

• ExplainerBPC-157 Side Effects, What the Evidence Shows12 min
• ExplainerBPC-157 Benefits, What the Evidence Shows12 min
• ExplainerBPC-157 Dosage, What the Literature Shows11 min
• ComparisonBPC-157 Oral vs Injection: The Bioavailability Question8 min

TB-500, The Field Guide

TB-500 vs Thymosin Beta-4 (same compound), mechanism, the preclinical tendon and recovery literature, and where the human data is thin.

• ComparisonTB-500 vs Thymosin Beta-4: The Real Difference10 min
• ExplainerTB-500 Dosage, What the Literature Shows10 min

GHK-Cu, Evidence and Hype

Copper peptide signaling, the topical RCT evidence for hair and skin, and the gap between topical and injectable claims.

• ExplainerGHK-Cu Benefits, What the Evidence Supports10 min
• ExplainerGHK-Cu Dosage: What the Literature Reports8 min

Sermorelin, What the Evidence Shows

Sermorelin is a GHRH analog the FDA once approved as Geref, then withdrawn from the US market in 2008. What the controlled trials show, why it now circulates almost entirely through compounding pharmacies, and where the human data actually stands.

• ExplainerSermorelin Side Effects, What the Studies Show11 min

Ipamorelin, What the Evidence Shows

Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue and ghrelin-receptor agonist. What the preclinical work shows, why the human trial record is nearly absent, and how it differs from sermorelin and CJC-1295.

• ExplainerIpamorelin Side Effects, What the Data Shows10 min

Tesamorelin, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for tesamorelin: an FDA-approved GHRH analog (Egrifta) for HIV-associated lipodystrophy, with Phase 3 visceral-fat data, and how that differs from the off-label use circulating online.

• ExplainerTesamorelin Dosage, What the Studies Report11 min

Semax, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for semax: a synthetic ACTH-fragment peptide used clinically in Russia, with a literature base that is largely Russian-language and thin on independent replication outside Russia.

• ComparisonSemax vs Selank: The Real Difference10 min

MOTS-c, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for MOTS-c: a mitochondrial-encoded peptide with compelling preclinical metabolic biology and almost no controlled human data. What the mouse studies show, and what they do not.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

PT-141, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for PT-141 (bremelanotide): an FDA-approved melanocortin-receptor agonist (Vyleesi) for acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women, with Phase 3 data.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

CJC-1295, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for CJC-1295: a synthetic growth-hormone-releasing hormone analog with some early human pharmacokinetic data on a stabilized variant, but no FDA-approved indication. What the studies show, and what they do not.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

Selank, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for selank: a synthetic analog of the endogenous peptide tuftsin used clinically in Russia as an anxiolytic, with a literature base that is largely Russian-language and thin on independent replication outside Russia.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

DSIP Peptide, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide): a neuropeptide isolated from rabbit brain in 1977 and marketed online for sleep, whose human sleep data are old, small, and inconsistent, with no FDA approval.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

Thymosin Alpha-1, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for thymosin alpha-1 (Talpha1): an immune-modulating thymic peptide approved in several countries as Zadaxin for hepatitis B and C and as a vaccine enhancer, but not FDA-approved in the US. What the studies show, and what they do not.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

KPV Peptide, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for KPV (lysine-proline-valine): the C-terminal tripeptide fragment of the hormone alpha-MSH with anti-inflammatory effects in animal and cell models, no FDA-approved indication, and a very thin human evidence base.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

Melanotan 2, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for melanotan 2 (MT-2): a synthetic analog of alpha-MSH marketed as a tanning and libido agent, with no approval as a medicine and documented safety concerns ranging from nausea to changing moles.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

Epithalon (Epitalon), What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for epithalon (epitalon, AEDG): a synthetic pineal tetrapeptide marketed for telomerase activation and longevity. What the cell studies and the Russian human cohorts actually show, and what they lack.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

5-Amino-1MQ, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for 5-Amino-1MQ: a small-molecule NNMT inhibitor marketed for fat loss, with compelling preclinical mouse metabolic biology and no published controlled human trial. Strictly speaking, it is not a peptide.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

Retatrutide, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for retatrutide (LY3437943), Eli Lilly's triple GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptor agonist, with the largest weight loss yet reported in a phase 2 obesity trial and a phase 3 program still running. Investigational, not FDA-approved.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

Glutathione: The Peptide Antioxidant, Assessed

Glutathione is the body's master antioxidant, a tripeptide made in every cell. What it actually does, why oral absorption is the central problem, and what the studies show for skin, oxidative stress and safety, characterized against the evidence.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

GLOW Peptide, What the Blend Actually Is

"GLOW" is not a single peptide but a blend of GHK-Cu, BPC-157 and TB-500, sold as a research chemical for skin and recovery. What each component actually supports, why there is no study on the blend itself, and how to read the marketing soberly.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.

IGF-1 LR3, What the Evidence Shows

Evidence Ledger for IGF-1 LR3 (Long R3 IGF-1), an engineered, binding-protein-resistant analog of insulin-like growth factor 1 used as a lab reagent and sold for muscle growth, with no human trials and no FDA approval. What the studies show, and what they do not.

Supporting posts land here as they clear editorial review. The profile is the place to start.