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Compare

Two peptides, side by side.

Mechanisms, evidence tier, regulatory status and every indexed primary study for each compound. A stronger evidence tier describes study design, not safety or effectiveness.

BPC-157

Body Protection Compound 157 · PL 14736

GHK-Cu

Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper(II)

Category

Tissue repair & healing
Skin & extracellular matrix

Evidence tier

Animal / in-vitro only
Animal / in-vitro only

Regulatory status

Not approved by FDA or EMA. Investigated as PL 14736 for inflammatory bowel disease but never marketed. Prohibited in sport (WADA).
Not an approved drug. Regulated as a cosmetic ingredient for topical use; injectable use is unapproved and research-only.

Studied for

Tissue repair · Gut integrity
Skin remodelling · Gene expression

Summary

Proposed to promote angiogenesis and modulate nitric oxide and VEGF signalling, accelerating healing of tendon, ligament, muscle and gut tissue in animal injury models. No validated human receptor or pharmacokinetic profile has been published, and nearly all supportive data come from a small cluster of laboratories using rodent models.
Reported to modulate gene-expression networks involved in wound healing, collagen and elastin synthesis, antioxidant defence and inflammation. Most mechanistic work is gene-expression correlation analysis and topical skin work from a small set of investigators rather than controlled clinical trials.

Mechanism

  • Pentadecapeptide fragment of a protective protein found in human gastric juice
  • Unusually stable in gastric acid for a peptide of its size
  • No confirmed receptor; proposed action through VEGF and nitric-oxide signalling
  • Naturally occurring human plasma tripeptide with very high copper affinity
  • Copper coordination appears essential to most reported activity
  • Plasma levels decline substantially with age

Structure

GEPPPGKPADDAGLV

15 residues · ≈1419 Da

GHK · Cu(II)

3 residues · ≈340 Da

Study profile

4 indexed · 0 in humans · 2003–2010
4 indexed · 0 in humans · 2015–2020

Primary studies (newest first)

Educational comparison only, not medical advice. See the full disclaimer.

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Investigational compounds. The majority of peptides indexed here are investigational research chemicals that are not approved by the FDA, EMA or any comparable regulator for human use. We do not sell, supply, source or recommend any compound, dose or protocol.

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