Strong human evidence
Liraglutide
Also called Saxenda, Victoza
The daily injection that came before Ozempic. Less weight loss than the weekly options, well studied, and often much easier to get.
Weight and appetite
Every compound, explained simply
Mostly peptides, plus the handful of other compounds sold on the same shelf. What each one is actually used for, in normal words, and whether it is a real medicine you can be prescribed or something sold online that has never been tested in people.
What the labels mean
- Approved medicine
- Licensed by medicines regulators for at least one condition, and prescribed for it.
- Prescribed off-label
- A real prescription medicine, but commonly prescribed for something it was not licensed for.
- Used in skincare
- Sold in creams and serums rather than as a medicine. Regulated as a cosmetic, not a drug.
- Research compound
- Not approved for human use anywhere. Sold labelled 'for research use only', which describes its legal status rather than its safety.
Weight and appetite
The ones people take to eat less and lose weight.
Strong human evidence
Semaglutide
Also called Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus
The weekly injection behind Ozempic and Wegovy, and the best evidenced weight loss medicine most people will ever be offered.
Weight and appetite
Strong human evidence
Tirzepatide
Also called Mounjaro, Zepbound
The strongest weight loss medicine currently approved. It works on two gut hormones instead of one, and trial results reached about 20%.
Weight and appetite
Early human studies
AOD-9604
Also called Anti-Obesity Drug 9604, HGH fragment 176-191
A growth hormone fragment that reached a proper phase 2b trial, which makes it one of the few compounds here with a real answer.
Weight and appetite
Early human studies
Cagrilintide
Also called AM833, The amylin one
A long-acting amylin analogue that reduces appetite through a second, separate pathway from the GLP-1 drugs.
Weight and appetite
No human trials yet
HGH Frag 176-191
Also called HGH fragment, Lipolytic fragment, AOD-9604 parent
The fat-burning tail of growth hormone, sold as a standalone fat loss injection and the parent of a compound that reached phase 2.
Weight and appetite
Strong human evidence
Retatrutide
Also called LY3437943, Triple G, Reta
The triple agonist that beat everything else in trials, with phase 3 results in hand and average weight loss reaching about 28%.
Weight and appetite
Recovery and injury
Used for healing, joints, tendons and training recovery.
No human trials yet
BPC-157
Also called Body Protection Compound 157, Pentadecapeptide BPC 157
The most talked-about recovery peptide online, with three decades of animal research behind it and a following that keeps growing.
Recovery and injury
No human trials yet
KPV
Also called Lysine-proline-valine, Alpha-MSH 11-13
A three amino acid anti-inflammatory fragment with convincing animal work behind it, sold for gut and skin problems.
Recovery and injury
No human trials yet
TB-500
Also called Thymosin Beta-4, TB4
BPC-157's usual partner in a recovery stack, built on genuinely interesting wound-repair biology and a long animal record.
Recovery and injury
Skin and hair
Anti-ageing creams, hair growth, and what actually absorbs.
Mixed human studies
Melanotan I
Also called MT-1, Afamelanotide, Scenesse
The selective cousin of Melanotan II, approved as an implant for a rare light-sensitivity disease and sought after for pigmentation.
Skin and hair
Mixed human studies
Argireline
Also called Acetyl hexapeptide-8, Acetyl hexapeptide-3
The peptide marketed as topical Botox for expression lines, and the most widely used active in the whole of peptide skincare.
Skin and hair
Mixed human studies
GHK-Cu
Also called Copper peptide, Copper tripeptide-1
The blue copper peptide in serums, and one of the few skincare peptides with real human studies behind its firmness claims.
Skin and hair
Mixed human studies
Matrixyl
Also called Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, Matrixyl 3000
The collagen-signalling peptide in a huge share of anti-ageing serums, and the gentlest well-studied option in the category.
Skin and hair
Hormones and growth
Growth hormone boosters and the hormone-adjacent ones.
Strong human evidence
Tesamorelin
Also called Egrifta
The approved peptide that genuinely reduces deep belly fat, by prompting the body to release its own growth hormone.
Hormones and growth
Mixed human studies
Sermorelin
Also called Geref, GHRH 1-29
A prescription growth hormone booster from compounding pharmacies, widely used in anti-ageing clinics and reported for its effect on sleep.
Hormones and growth
No human trials yet
CJC-1295
Also called Modified GRF 1-29, CJC-1295 DAC
The long-acting growth hormone releaser usually stacked with Ipamorelin, and the one with published human pharmacology behind it.
Hormones and growth
No human trials yet
GHRP-6
Also called Growth hormone releasing peptide-6, SKF-110679
The original growth hormone releasing peptide, and still the most reliable appetite stimulant of the whole family.
Hormones and growth
No human trials yet
IGF-1 LR3
Also called Long R3 IGF-1, Mecasermin analogue
A modified growth factor that acts at the far end of the growth hormone chain, and the most potent compound in this category.
Hormones and growth
No human trials yet
Ipamorelin
Also called NNC 26-0161
The selective growth hormone releaser popular in anti-ageing circles, well tolerated in studies and known for its effect on sleep.
Hormones and growth
Sex and libido
Desire and erectile function, including one approved for women.
Mixed human studies
Bremelanotide
Also called Vyleesi, PT-141
An approved medicine for low sexual desire in premenopausal women, and the only one that works on the brain rather than blood flow.
Sex and libido
No human trials yet
Melanotan II
Also called MT-2, The tanning injection, Barbie drug
The tanning injection sold online, and one of the few compounds here with a visible, fast and unmistakable effect.
Sex and libido
Sleep, mood and focus
Marketed for calm, memory and mental sharpness.
Early human studies
DSIP
Also called Delta sleep-inducing peptide
A sleep peptide discovered in 1977, named for the deep sleep state it was isolated from, and studied on and off ever since.
Sleep, mood and focus
Early human studies
Selank
Also called TP-7
A Russian anti-anxiety peptide, approved there and sold everywhere else as a nasal spray for calm without sedation.
Sleep, mood and focus
Early human studies
Semax
Also called N-acetyl semax, ACTH 4-10 analogue
A nootropic nasal spray from the same Russian programme as Selank, used there clinically after stroke.
Sleep, mood and focus
Longevity
Sold for ageing and energy. The thinnest evidence on the site.
Mixed human studies
SS-31
Also called Elamipretide, MTP-131, Forzinity
A mitochondria-targeting peptide approved in 2025, designed to bind a fat found nowhere in the cell except the mitochondrial membrane.
Longevity
No human trials yet
Epitalon
Also called Epithalon, AEDG peptide
The telomere peptide, developed in St Petersburg from pineal gland research and sold with the boldest claim in this whole category.
Longevity
No human trials yet
FOXO4-DRI
Also called FOX04-DRI, Senolytic peptide, Proxofim
The senolytic peptide from one striking 2017 mouse paper, built to clear the cells that stop dividing but refuse to die.
Longevity
No human trials yet
MOTS-c
Also called Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c
A peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA rather than by the nucleus, sold as an exercise mimetic. Genuinely unusual biology.
Longevity
Mixed human studies
Thymosin alpha-1
Also called Zadaxin, Ta1
An immune-modulating peptide licensed in more than thirty countries, with genuine hospital use behind it for hepatitis and sepsis.
Longevity
Early human studies
Thymulin
Also called Facteur thymique serique, FTS, Zinc-thymulin
A zinc-dependent thymic hormone studied since the 1970s, and the only peptide here that is biologically inert without its metal.
Longevity
Sold alongside peptides
Not peptides at all. Small molecules and cofactors sold on the same shelf, held to the same standard here.
Mixed human studies
Methylene blue
Also called Methylthioninium chloride, Provayblue
A 150-year-old dye that is also a real emergency medicine, now sold in dropper bottles for focus and mitochondrial function.
Sold alongside peptides
No human trials yet
5-Amino-1MQ
Also called 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium, NNMT inhibitor
A small molecule sold as a fat loss capsule, and one of the few things on this shelf that works by mouth rather than by needle.
Sold alongside peptides
Early human studies
NAD+
Also called Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD
A coenzyme every cell already uses in enormous quantities, sold as an injection and as an IV drip for energy and ageing.
Sold alongside peptides
All 34 peptides, A to Z
5-Amino-1MQ
No human trials yet
A small molecule sold as a fat loss capsule, and one of the few things on this shelf that works by mouth rather than by needle.
AOD-9604
Early human studies
A growth hormone fragment that reached a proper phase 2b trial, which makes it one of the few compounds here with a real answer.
Argireline
Mixed human studies
The peptide marketed as topical Botox for expression lines, and the most widely used active in the whole of peptide skincare.
BPC-157
No human trials yet
The most talked-about recovery peptide online, with three decades of animal research behind it and a following that keeps growing.
Bremelanotide
Mixed human studies
An approved medicine for low sexual desire in premenopausal women, and the only one that works on the brain rather than blood flow.
Cagrilintide
Early human studies
A long-acting amylin analogue that reduces appetite through a second, separate pathway from the GLP-1 drugs.
CJC-1295
No human trials yet
The long-acting growth hormone releaser usually stacked with Ipamorelin, and the one with published human pharmacology behind it.
DSIP
Early human studies
A sleep peptide discovered in 1977, named for the deep sleep state it was isolated from, and studied on and off ever since.
Epitalon
No human trials yet
The telomere peptide, developed in St Petersburg from pineal gland research and sold with the boldest claim in this whole category.
FOXO4-DRI
No human trials yet
The senolytic peptide from one striking 2017 mouse paper, built to clear the cells that stop dividing but refuse to die.
GHK-Cu
Mixed human studies
The blue copper peptide in serums, and one of the few skincare peptides with real human studies behind its firmness claims.
GHRP-6
No human trials yet
The original growth hormone releasing peptide, and still the most reliable appetite stimulant of the whole family.
HGH Frag 176-191
No human trials yet
The fat-burning tail of growth hormone, sold as a standalone fat loss injection and the parent of a compound that reached phase 2.
IGF-1 LR3
No human trials yet
A modified growth factor that acts at the far end of the growth hormone chain, and the most potent compound in this category.
Ipamorelin
No human trials yet
The selective growth hormone releaser popular in anti-ageing circles, well tolerated in studies and known for its effect on sleep.
KPV
No human trials yet
A three amino acid anti-inflammatory fragment with convincing animal work behind it, sold for gut and skin problems.
Liraglutide
Strong human evidence
The daily injection that came before Ozempic. Less weight loss than the weekly options, well studied, and often much easier to get.
Matrixyl
Mixed human studies
The collagen-signalling peptide in a huge share of anti-ageing serums, and the gentlest well-studied option in the category.
Melanotan I
Mixed human studies
The selective cousin of Melanotan II, approved as an implant for a rare light-sensitivity disease and sought after for pigmentation.
Melanotan II
No human trials yet
The tanning injection sold online, and one of the few compounds here with a visible, fast and unmistakable effect.
Methylene blue
Mixed human studies
A 150-year-old dye that is also a real emergency medicine, now sold in dropper bottles for focus and mitochondrial function.
MOTS-c
No human trials yet
A peptide encoded by mitochondrial DNA rather than by the nucleus, sold as an exercise mimetic. Genuinely unusual biology.
NAD+
Early human studies
A coenzyme every cell already uses in enormous quantities, sold as an injection and as an IV drip for energy and ageing.
Retatrutide
Strong human evidence
The triple agonist that beat everything else in trials, with phase 3 results in hand and average weight loss reaching about 28%.
Selank
Early human studies
A Russian anti-anxiety peptide, approved there and sold everywhere else as a nasal spray for calm without sedation.
Semaglutide
Strong human evidence
The weekly injection behind Ozempic and Wegovy, and the best evidenced weight loss medicine most people will ever be offered.
Semax
Early human studies
A nootropic nasal spray from the same Russian programme as Selank, used there clinically after stroke.
Sermorelin
Mixed human studies
A prescription growth hormone booster from compounding pharmacies, widely used in anti-ageing clinics and reported for its effect on sleep.
SS-31
Mixed human studies
A mitochondria-targeting peptide approved in 2025, designed to bind a fat found nowhere in the cell except the mitochondrial membrane.
TB-500
No human trials yet
BPC-157's usual partner in a recovery stack, built on genuinely interesting wound-repair biology and a long animal record.
Tesamorelin
Strong human evidence
The approved peptide that genuinely reduces deep belly fat, by prompting the body to release its own growth hormone.
Thymosin alpha-1
Mixed human studies
An immune-modulating peptide licensed in more than thirty countries, with genuine hospital use behind it for hepatitis and sepsis.
Thymulin
Early human studies
A zinc-dependent thymic hormone studied since the 1970s, and the only peptide here that is biologically inert without its metal.
Tirzepatide
Strong human evidence
The strongest weight loss medicine currently approved. It works on two gut hormones instead of one, and trial results reached about 20%.
Missing one you were looking for? The list grows over time. How this site works.