Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, a lab-made copy of a natural gut hormone your body releases after eating. In plain terms: it flips on your 'I'm full' signal, so you feel satisfied sooner, eat less, and your blood sugar steadies. It is the active drug in Ozempic and Wegovy.
Tirzepatide is a dual agonist that activates two gut-hormone receptors at once, GLP-1 and GIP. In plain terms: it works on two of your body's appetite-and-blood-sugar signals together, which tends to produce more weight loss than drugs that hit only one. It is the active drug in Mounjaro and Zepbound.
Retatrutide is a triple agonist that switches on three hormone receptors at once: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. In plain terms: it copies three of your natural 'I'm full' and fat-burning signals together, which is why it drives some of the largest weight-loss numbers seen in trials. It is still experimental.
Cagrilintide is a long-acting amylin analog, a copy of amylin, the hormone your pancreas releases with insulin to signal fullness. In plain terms: it works on a different 'stop eating' pathway than the GLP-1 drugs, which is why it is often paired with semaglutide for bigger results.
Liraglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, the same hormone-copying approach as semaglutide but shorter-acting, so it is taken daily. In plain terms: it turns up your fullness signal to curb appetite and steady blood sugar. It is the drug in Saxenda and Victoza.
Survodutide is a dual GLP-1 and glucagon agonist. In plain terms: it copies your fullness signal and also nudges your metabolism to burn more energy, which is why trials show strong weight loss and better fatty liver. It is still experimental.
Mazdutide is a dual GLP-1 and glucagon agonist, similar in design to survodutide. In plain terms: it works on appetite and metabolism at once for weight loss and better blood sugar. It is approved in China and still in trials elsewhere.
Amycretin is a single molecule that combines GLP-1 and amylin activity. In plain terms: it packs two different 'stop eating' signals into one compound, with strong early weight-loss data. It is still experimental, in pill and injectable forms.
VK2735 is a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist, the same two-receptor family as tirzepatide. In plain terms: it works on two appetite-and-blood-sugar signals for weight loss, with promising early results. It is in trials as both a shot and a pill.
Orforglipron is an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist, and unlike most of this group it is a small molecule rather than a peptide, so it survives digestion as a pill. In plain terms: it gives the same appetite control as the injectable GLP-1 drugs without needles, and unlike earlier oral versions it does not need to be taken on an empty stomach.
Pramlintide is a synthetic version of amylin, a hormone released with insulin. In plain terms: taken at meals alongside insulin in diabetes, it blunts the post-meal blood-sugar spike and reduces hunger. It is FDA-approved.
AOD-9604 is a modified fragment of growth hormone (the 176-191 tail) with an added amino acid. In plain terms: it was built to trigger growth hormone's fat-burning effect without its muscle or blood-sugar effects, though the human proof that it works is weak.
HGH Fragment 176-191 is the tail end of the growth hormone molecule, the part linked to fat breakdown. In plain terms: it aims to target stubborn fat without the rest of growth hormone's effects, but real human evidence is thin.
5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecule, not a peptide, that blocks an enzyme called NNMT which helps fat cells store fat. In plain terms: by taking the brakes off cellular metabolism, it is studied for burning fat and boosting energy, though human data is very limited.
Tesofensine is a small molecule, not a peptide, that blocks the reuptake of three brain chemicals: dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin. In plain terms: it acts on the brain's appetite and reward system like a stimulant to suppress hunger, which also means more heart-related risk.
SLU-PP-332 is a small molecule, not a peptide, that activates ERR, a switch controlling how cells burn energy. In plain terms: it is nicknamed 'exercise in a molecule' because it pushes cells to act as if you had worked out, but it is very early with no human data.
MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide, a short chain your own mitochondria (your cells' power plants) produce, that activates the energy sensor AMPK. In plain terms: it signals cells to burn more fuel and use energy efficiently, which is why it is explored for metabolism and aging.
CagriSema is a fixed combination of cagrilintide (an amylin copy) and semaglutide (a GLP-1 copy) in one weekly shot. In plain terms: it hits two separate fullness pathways at once for bigger weight loss than either alone. It is still experimental.
Danuglipron is an oral GLP-1 receptor agonist and a small molecule, not a peptide, so it works as a pill. In plain terms: it gives GLP-1-style appetite control without injections. It is in testing.
Petrelintide is a long-acting amylin analog. In plain terms: it copies the pancreas's fullness hormone to reduce appetite, positioned as a gentler standalone weight-loss option. It is still experimental.
Setmelanotide is an MC4R agonist that switches on the brain's melanocortin-4 receptor, a master control for hunger. In plain terms: for people with rare genetic defects in this exact hunger pathway, it restores the missing 'I'm full' signal. It is FDA-approved only for those specific conditions.
MariTide is an unusual design, an antibody linked to two GLP-1 peptides that also blocks the GIP receptor. In plain terms: it combines appetite signals in one long-lasting molecule you inject only once a month. It is still experimental.
CT-388 is a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist, the same two-receptor family as tirzepatide. In plain terms: it works on two appetite-and-blood-sugar signals for weight loss. It is a weekly shot still in trials.
Pemvidutide is a dual GLP-1 and glucagon agonist. In plain terms: it curbs appetite and nudges metabolism to burn more, studied for both weight loss and fatty-liver disease. It is still experimental.
Eloralintide is an amylin receptor agonist from Eli Lilly. In plain terms: it copies the pancreas's fullness hormone for weight loss, designed to be easy to tolerate. It is still in trials.
Zovaglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist. In plain terms: it gives the usual GLP-1 appetite control but lasts long enough to inject just once a month. It is still experimental.
Bimagrumab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the activin type II receptor, a signal that normally limits muscle. In plain terms: by releasing that brake it builds muscle while the body sheds fat, an unusual combination being studied with GLP-1 drugs. It is still experimental.
Ipamorelin is a growth hormone secretagogue, specifically a ghrelin-receptor agonist (a GHRP). In plain terms: instead of injecting growth hormone, it signals your pituitary to release a clean pulse of your own, without much effect on hunger or stress hormones.
CJC-1295 with DAC is a long-acting GHRH analog, a copy of the hormone that tells your body to make growth hormone, with a molecular anchor ('DAC') that keeps it working for days. In plain terms: it raises your own growth hormone steadily from a single weekly or twice-weekly shot.
CJC-1295 without DAC (also called Mod GRF 1-29) is the short-acting version of the same GHRH analog. In plain terms: it gives a quick pulse of growth hormone closer to your body's natural rhythm, then clears fast, so it is usually paired with ipamorelin.
This is a blend of two growth-hormone signals: a GHRH analog that sets a steady base and a GHRP that adds a pulse. The CJC-1295 in these vials is almost always the no-DAC version, also called Mod GRF 1-29, because a short pulse is the whole point and the DAC version lasts about a week. In plain terms: together they nudge your body to release more of its own growth hormone than either alone, in one shot.
Sermorelin is a GHRH analog, a shortened copy of the natural hormone that prompts growth hormone release. In plain terms: it encourages your body to make more of its own growth hormone, a gentler approach than injecting the hormone directly.
Tesamorelin is a stabilized GHRH analog. In plain terms: it tells your body to make more growth hormone, and it is specifically proven to shrink deep belly fat. It is FDA-approved for HIV-related belly fat.
GHRP-2 is a growth hormone releasing peptide (a ghrelin-receptor agonist). In plain terms: it signals a strong pulse of your own growth hormone, a bigger boost than ipamorelin, though it also nudges appetite and stress hormones up a bit.
GHRP-6 is a growth hormone releasing peptide that strongly activates the ghrelin (hunger) receptor. In plain terms: it raises your own growth hormone and triggers intense hunger, which is why it is mostly used for bulking.
Hexarelin is a potent growth hormone releasing peptide. In plain terms: it strongly signals growth hormone release and has even shown heart-protective effects, but the body adapts to it quickly, so it stops working well with continued use.
MK-677 (ibutamoren) is a ghrelin-receptor agonist and, unlike the injectable peptides here, a small molecule that works as a daily pill. In plain terms: it keeps your own growth hormone and IGF-1 raised around the clock for sleep, appetite, muscle, and skin, without needles.
HGH (somatropin) is lab-made human growth hormone itself, injected directly rather than coaxed out of your body. In plain terms: it is the most powerful option for muscle, fat loss, and recovery, but also the priciest and the most likely to cause side effects if misused. It is prescription-only.
IGF-1 LR3 is a long-acting version of insulin-like growth factor 1, the hormone that growth hormone works through to build tissue. In plain terms: it directly drives muscle cells to grow and repair and stays active for hours, but it also drops blood sugar hard.
IGF-1 DES is a short, extra-potent version of insulin-like growth factor 1 that acts locally. In plain terms: injected into a specific muscle, it drives growth right there, then clears quickly.
Follistatin is a protein that binds and blocks myostatin, the body's natural brake on muscle growth. In plain terms: with the brake released, muscles can grow beyond their normal limit, an effect that is dramatic in animals but experimental in people.
MGF (mechano growth factor) is a variant of IGF-1 that muscles produce locally after intense exercise. In plain terms: it activates the stem cells that rebuild muscle, so it is injected near a worked muscle to speed repair.
PEG-MGF is mechano growth factor with a PEG coating that makes it last far longer in the body. In plain terms: it does the same muscle-repair job as MGF but on a less-frequent schedule.
ACE-031 (ramatercept) is a decoy receptor that soaks up myostatin and activin, the signals that limit muscle. In plain terms: by mopping up those brakes it lets muscle grow, but its development was paused over side effects.
BPC-157 is a synthetic chain of 15 amino acids based on a protective protein found in stomach acid. In plain terms: it seems to speed the body's own repair signals, especially for blood vessels and connective tissue, which is why people use it after injuries, though almost all evidence is from animals.
TB-500 is a synthetic fragment of thymosin beta-4, a natural protein involved in cell repair and movement. In plain terms: it is used to help muscles, tendons, and other tissue heal and to improve flexibility, though most evidence is from animals and most products are the fragment, not the full protein.
PDA (pentadeca arginate) is a more stable, arginate-salt cousin of BPC-157. In plain terms: it aims to do the same repair job, healing gut, tendon, and muscle, while lasting longer in the body. It is very new.
GLOW is a pre-mixed blend of three peptides: GHK-Cu for skin, plus BPC-157 and TB-500 for tissue repair. In plain terms: it bundles a skin-and-healing stack into one injection.
KLOW is the GLOW blend (GHK-Cu, BPC-157, TB-500) with KPV added for extra anti-inflammatory effect. In plain terms: it is an all-in-one recovery-and-skin stack in a single shot.
KPV is a tripeptide, the three-amino-acid tail (lysine-proline-valine) of the hormone alpha-MSH, minus the part that causes tanning. In plain terms: it carries alpha-MSH's anti-inflammatory action to calm the gut and skin without darkening skin. There are no human trials yet.
ARA-290 (cibinetide) is an 11-amino-acid peptide carved from the tissue-protective part of erythropoietin (EPO), the hormone that makes red blood cells. In plain terms: it keeps only EPO's healing, anti-inflammatory side, switching on a 'repair receptor' in injured nerves and tissue without thickening the blood. It reached real human trials for nerve pain.
VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) is a natural 28-amino-acid signaling peptide found in the gut, lungs, and nerves. In plain terms: it relaxes blood vessels and airways and calms the immune system, which is why a nasal-spray form is used to try to quiet chronic inflammation, though it can lower blood pressure.
Larazotide is an 8-amino-acid peptide that tightens the junctions between the cells lining your gut. In plain terms: it works locally in the intestine to seal a 'leaky' gut barrier and has been studied mainly for celiac disease. It is not absorbed into the body.
Pentosan polysulfate is a semi-synthetic sugar-based molecule, not a peptide, that acts like the natural lubricants in joints and the bladder lining. In plain terms: it coats and calms irritated tissue, used for arthritis and painful bladder. It is a prescription drug for some uses.
Semax is a 7-amino-acid peptide based on a fragment of ACTH, a brain-signaling hormone. In plain terms: it raises BDNF, a chemical that helps brain cells grow and connect, which is why it is used for focus and memory, and in Russia after strokes. The human studies and the Russian registration both use the nasal route. Vendors sell it as a vial of powder, which people also inject under the skin, though no published human study has tested it that way.
Selank is a synthetic version of tuftsin, a natural immune-and-brain peptide. In plain terms: it gently tunes the calming GABA and serotonin systems to lower anxiety without sedation or dependence. The human studies and the Russian approval both use the nasal route. Vendors sell it as a vial of powder, which people also inject under the skin, though no published human study has tested it that way.
N-Acetyl Semax Amidate is a chemically tweaked, more stable version of Semax. In plain terms: it does the same focus-and-memory job by raising BDNF, but resists breakdown so it lasts longer.
DSIP (delta sleep-inducing peptide) is a natural 9-amino-acid brain peptide linked to deep sleep. In plain terms: taken before bed, it is used to encourage the deep, slow-wave stage of sleep, though results are inconsistent.
Cerebrolysin is a mixture of small peptides and amino acids extracted from pig brain tissue, rich in nerve-growth signals. In plain terms: injected in cycles, it feeds and protects brain cells, and it has the strongest human evidence in this group for stroke and dementia recovery.
Dihexa is a small peptide derived from angiotensin IV that powerfully activates HGF, a growth signal for brain connections. In plain terms: it is studied for building new synapses and reversing memory loss, with striking animal results but essentially no human safety data.
Methylene blue is a century-old synthetic dye, not a peptide, that can shuttle electrons inside cells' energy machinery. In plain terms: at low doses it helps mitochondria make energy more efficiently, which is why it is taken for focus and energy. It famously turns urine blue-green, which is harmless.
Pinealon is a 3-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family of short peptides. In plain terms: it is marketed to support brain function, sleep, and healthy aging, but there is very little real human research behind it.
P21 is a small peptide derived from CNTF, a natural nerve-growth factor. In plain terms: it is studied for growing new brain cells and protecting memory, but there is no human data.
PE-22-28 is a peptide based on spadin that blocks a potassium channel (TREK-1) tied to mood. In plain terms: it is studied as a fast-acting antidepressant that may also support brain flexibility, but there is no human data.
Epitalon is a 4-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family, based on a natural pineal-gland peptide. In plain terms: it is taken in short courses for sleep and anti-aging on the theory that it supports the body's internal clock, but strong human evidence is thin.
NAD+ is not a peptide but a coenzyme every cell uses to turn food into energy, and levels fall with age. In plain terms: supplementing it is meant to refill your cells' energy currency to fight fatigue and support healthy aging. Injectable NAD+ is compounded, and human evidence is still early.
SS-31 (elamipretide) is a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide that binds and stabilizes cardiolipin, a fat in the inner wall of your cells' power plants. In plain terms: it helps damaged mitochondria make energy again and cut harmful byproducts, and it is in real clinical trials for mitochondrial and heart disease.
Humanin is a mitochondrial-derived peptide, a short chain encoded inside your mitochondria's own DNA. In plain terms: it acts as a cell-protective, stress-resistance signal, which is why it is studied for brain, metabolic, and aging support. Human data is limited.
FOXO4-DRI is a specially built (D-retro-inverso) peptide that pries apart a partnership between the proteins FOXO4 and p53 inside aged cells. In plain terms: it is a 'senolytic,' designed to make worn-out 'zombie' cells self-destruct so healthy tissue can take over, with striking animal results but essentially no human safety data.
Thymalin is a peptide extract from the thymus, the gland that trains your immune system. In plain terms: taken in short courses, it is used to refresh immune function and support healthy aging, though Western human evidence is limited.
Vilon is a 2-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for immune balance and healthy aging, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Cortagen is a short peptide 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family, based on a brain-tissue peptide. In plain terms: it is taken in courses for nerve and tissue recovery, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Cartalax is a 3-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for cartilage and joint health, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Vesugen is a short 3-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed to support blood-vessel health as you age, but there is very little real human research behind it, so treat the claims cautiously.
Bronchogen is a 4-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for lung and airway health, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Ovagen is a short peptide 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for liver and digestive support, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Chonluten is a 3-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for lung and gut-lining support, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Cerluten is a peptide 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family, drawn from nerve tissue. In plain terms: it is marketed for brain and nervous-system support, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Sigumir is a peptide 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family, drawn from cartilage. In plain terms: it is marketed for bone, joint, and cartilage health, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Glutathione is a natural tripeptide (three amino acids) that is your body's master antioxidant. In plain terms: it mops up cell-damaging molecules, which is why it is taken for skin brightness, detox support, and general cell protection.
Thymosin Alpha-1 is a 28-amino-acid peptide made by the thymus that helps direct immune defenses. In plain terms: it tunes up the immune system to respond better to infection, and it is well studied and used abroad as an add-on therapy.
LL-37 is a natural 37-amino-acid antimicrobial peptide, part of your innate immune system's first line of defense. In plain terms: it punches holes in bacteria and helps wounds heal, which is why it is explored for stubborn infections, though human data is limited.
Thymulin is a zinc-dependent thymus peptide involved in immune-cell maturation. In plain terms: it is studied for balancing immune function and calming inflammation and pain, with limited human data.
Thymogen is a 2-amino-acid thymus 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is taken in courses to support immune function, but there is very little real human research behind it.
PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a melanocortin receptor agonist, a cyclic peptide that acts on the MC4R receptor in the brain. In plain terms: it raises sexual desire through brain signaling rather than blood flow, which is different from how erection drugs work. It is FDA-approved for low libido in women.
Kisspeptin is a natural brain peptide that sits at the very top of the reproductive hormone chain, switching on the neurons that release GnRH. In plain terms: it kick-starts your body's own sex-hormone production, which is why it is studied for libido and fertility, with a gentler feel than PT-141.
Gonadorelin is synthetic GnRH, the hormone your brain uses to tell the pituitary to make testosterone and fertility hormones. In plain terms: it prompts your own hormone production, often used alongside testosterone therapy to keep the testicles active. Because it clears fast, it needs frequent dosing.
HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone that mimics LH, the signal that tells the testicles to make testosterone and sperm. In plain terms: it keeps the testicles switched on, commonly used alongside testosterone therapy or for fertility.
HMG (menotropin) is a fertility medication containing both FSH and LH, the two pituitary hormones that drive egg and sperm production. In plain terms: it supplies those signals directly to stimulate fertility, used in fertility treatment and sometimes with testosterone therapy.
Oxytocin is a natural 9-amino-acid hormone made in the brain, released during touch, closeness, and childbirth. In plain terms: known as the 'bonding hormone,' it is used as a nasal spray or tablet for connection, mood, and sometimes libido, with subtle, short-lived effects.
GHK-Cu is a natural copper-binding tripeptide (glycyl-histidyl-lysine plus copper) the body uses in tissue repair, and levels fall with age. In plain terms: applied to skin it signals collagen and healing, which is why it is a popular anti-aging skincare ingredient.
Melanotan I (afamelanotide) is an analog of alpha-MSH, the hormone that tells skin to make the pigment melanin. In plain terms: it builds a slow, even, protective tan and shifts your skin toward real sun defense. It is FDA-approved (as Scenesse) for a rare light-sensitivity disorder.
Melanotan II is a broad melanocortin-receptor agonist, hitting several of the same receptors as the tanning and libido hormones. In plain terms: it tans skin fast and also boosts libido and cuts appetite, but hitting so many receptors is why it has more side effects. It is not approved.
Argireline (acetyl hexapeptide-8) is a cosmetic peptide that mildly limits the release of the signal muscles use to contract. In plain terms: applied topically, it softens fine expression lines a bit like a gentle, needle-free version of Botox.
SNAP-8 (acetyl octapeptide-3) is a longer cousin of Argireline used in skincare. In plain terms: applied to the skin, it relaxes the tiny muscles under expression lines to soften forehead and eye wrinkles.
Matrixyl (palmitoyl pentapeptide-4) is a cosmetic peptide that signals skin to rebuild collagen. In plain terms: used in serums over time, it firms skin and smooths fine lines.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 is a cosmetic collagen-signal peptide, often paired with Matrixyl. In plain terms: applied to skin, it tells the skin to make more collagen to firm and smooth.
Tetrapeptide-21 is a cosmetic peptide that boosts skin's production of collagen and hyaluronic acid. In plain terms: used topically, it helps skin look firmer and plumper.
Adipotide is an experimental peptide that homes to the blood vessels feeding fat tissue and triggers them to die. In plain terms: by starving fat of its blood supply it caused dramatic fat loss in animals, but it also damaged kidneys, so it is considered dangerous with essentially no safe human use.
Orexin-A (hypocretin-1) is a natural brain peptide that keeps you awake and alert; people with narcolepsy lack it. In plain terms: it is studied as a nasal spray for wakefulness and daytime energy, with limited data.
BPC-157 + TB-500 is a pre-mixed blend of two repair peptides: BPC-157 and TB-500. In plain terms: it puts the two most popular healing compounds into a single injection. The nickname Wolverine is a community name borrowed from the comic book character. No company owns it, and no two vendors have to agree on what goes in the vial.
This is a blend of two growth-hormone signals. Tesamorelin is a GHRH analog and tells the pituitary gland to make more growth hormone. Ipamorelin works on a separate receptor and adds a pulse on top. In plain terms: they push the same growth hormone release through two different doors, in one injection.
This is a blend of two growth-hormone signals. Sermorelin is a GHRH analog and tells the pituitary gland to release growth hormone. Ipamorelin acts on a different receptor and adds a pulse. In plain terms: the same idea as the CJC-1295 combo, using the older and shorter-acting GHRH.
MitoPrime is a pre-mixed vial holding three compounds aimed at cell energy: NAD+ at 100 mg, MOTS-c at 10 mg, and 5-Amino-1MQ at 10 mg. The idea behind pairing them is to supply NAD+, slow down how fast the body uses it up, and switch on the pathways that spend it. In plain terms: three angles on the same target. Two of the three are not peptides at all.
Teduglutide is a copy of GLP-2, a gut hormone that tells the lining of the intestine to grow and absorb more. In plain terms: it helps people whose intestine is too short to absorb enough food, so they need fewer hours hooked up to intravenous feeding. It is the only approved GLP-2 drug, and it is worth knowing about for a second reason: sellers use the name GLP-2 for tirzepatide, which is a different molecule with a different job.
Dulaglutide is a GLP-1 drug, the same family as Ozempic. It copies a gut hormone that tells the pancreas to release insulin when blood sugar is high, and slows how fast the stomach empties. In plain terms: it lowers blood sugar and takes the edge off hunger. It is approved for type 2 diabetes only, and the weight loss is much smaller than what people expect from this drug family.
Exenatide was the first GLP-1 drug ever approved. It is a copy of a substance found in the saliva of the Gila monster, a venomous lizard, which turned out to act on the same receptor as the human gut hormone GLP-1 while lasting much longer. In plain terms: this is where the whole Ozempic family started. It is still approved, but it has largely been left behind by newer drugs that work better and are taken less often.
Teriparatide is the working part of parathyroid hormone, the hormone that manages calcium in your body. Most osteoporosis drugs slow bone from breaking down. This one does the opposite job: it tells the body to build new bone. In plain terms: it is the drug used when bones are weak enough that slowing the damage is not enough.
Apitegromab is an antibody that blocks myostatin, the signal your body uses to limit how much muscle it builds. It is being tested alongside tirzepatide, because a large share of the weight people lose on those drugs is muscle rather than fat. In plain terms: the idea is to keep the fat loss and lose less muscle with it. It is not approved for anything, and it is an antibody rather than a peptide.
Trevogrumab is an antibody that blocks myostatin, the signal that limits muscle growth. It is being tested alongside semaglutide for the same reason as apitegromab: about a third of the weight lost on semaglutide is muscle. In plain terms: it is an attempt to make weight loss come more from fat. It is not approved anywhere, and it is an antibody rather than a peptide.
PNC-27 is a peptide built in a lab that is sold with claims about killing cancer cells. The idea behind it is real science: many cancer cells carry a protein called HDM-2 on their outer surface, and most healthy cells keep it tucked inside. PNC-27 was designed to stick to that protein and punch holes in the cell. In plain terms: the theory is careful and interesting, and it has never been tested in a person.
PTD-DBM is a peptide designed to switch a hair-growth signal back on. Your body uses a pathway called Wnt to decide when follicles grow, and a protein called CXXC5 acts as a brake on it. PTD-DBM gets in the way of that brake. In plain terms: it is meant to take the handbrake off hair growth. Everything published about it is from mice, and almost all of it comes from the one laboratory that invented it.
AHK-Cu is a copper peptide, the same family as GHK-Cu. It is three amino acids holding a copper atom, and copper is genuinely needed for building skin and blood vessels. It is sold mostly for hair rather than skin. In plain terms: it is the same idea as GHK-Cu with far less research behind it.
N-Acetyl Selank Amidate is a modified version of Selank, a Russian anti-anxiety peptide. Two small changes are made to the ends of the molecule so that enzymes take longer to break it down. In plain terms: it is Selank built to last a bit longer, usually sold as a nasal spray.
N-Acetyl Epitalon Amidate is a modified version of Epitalon, a four amino acid peptide from Russian ageing research. The ends of the molecule are capped so enzymes take longer to break it down. In plain terms: Epitalon built to survive longer in the body.
Noopept is a small molecule built from two amino acids joined together, made in Russia in 1996. It is not really a peptide: it is swallowed, absorbed like an ordinary drug, and broken down into a different active compound in the body. In plain terms: it is a memory and focus drug that gets sold beside peptides like Semax and Selank because it came out of the same Russian research world.
Cortexin is not a single peptide. It is a mixture pulled out of the brain cortex of cattle or pigs, containing dozens of small peptide fragments, most of which have never been identified individually. It is given as an injection into muscle and is used in Russia for brain recovery. In plain terms: it is a biological extract rather than a designed molecule, which is the same category as Cerebrolysin.
Thymopentin is a five amino acid piece of thymopoietin, a hormone made by the thymus gland that helps immune cells mature. Researchers found that this short stretch, positions 32 to 36, does everything the full 49 amino acid hormone does. In plain terms: they found the working part and threw away the rest, which makes it far easier to make.
Imunofan is a six amino acid peptide developed in Russia as a modified version of thymopentin, the working piece of a thymus hormone. An arginine was added at each end to make it last longer. In plain terms: it is thymopentin with a bit of armour, aimed at the same job of nudging the immune system.
BAM15 is a small molecule, not a peptide. It makes your mitochondria waste energy on purpose. Mitochondria normally build up a charge and then use it to make cellular fuel. BAM15 lets that charge leak away as heat instead, so the cell has to burn more to keep up. In plain terms: it turns your cells into slightly less efficient engines, so they burn more for the same work. It has never been tested in a person.
Cardiogen is a 4-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for heart muscle and blood vessels as they age, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Livagen is a 4-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for liver support and how tightly DNA is packed in liver cells, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Testagen is a 4-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for testicular function and testosterone with age, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Prostamax is a 4-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for prostate support in older men, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Crystagen is a 3-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for immune balance, studied beside Vilon and Thymogen, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Pancragen is a 4-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for pancreas function and blood sugar with age, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Vesilute is a 2-amino-acid 'bioregulator' from the Russian Khavinson family. In plain terms: it is marketed for bladder lining support, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Endoluten is a peptide extract from the pineal gland of young calves, taken as a capsule. In plain terms: it is marketed for sleep, body clock and general aging, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Suprefort is a peptide extract from the pancreas of young animals, not a single molecule. In plain terms: it is marketed for blood sugar and digestion with age, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Visoluten is a peptide extract from the retina of young animals, not a single molecule. In plain terms: it is marketed for eyesight and retinal health with age, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Bonomarlot is a peptide extract from the bone marrow of young animals, not a single molecule. In plain terms: it is marketed for blood cell production and immune recovery, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Libidon is a peptide extract from the prostate of young animals, not a single molecule. In plain terms: it is marketed for prostate support in older men, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Glandokort is a peptide extract from the adrenal glands of young animals, not a single molecule. In plain terms: it is marketed for stress response and cortisol balance, but there is very little real human research behind it.
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 is a four amino acid peptide used almost entirely in scalp and hair products. It is meant to strengthen the tissue that anchors a hair follicle by prompting cells to make more of the surrounding matrix, particularly collagen and laminin.
Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1 is the same three amino acid sequence as GHK, the copper peptide, with a biotin molecule attached instead of copper. It is used almost exclusively in hair, eyelash and eyebrow products.
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 is a four amino acid sequence taken from immunoglobulin G, an immune protein, with a fatty palmitoyl tail added so it can cross the skin barrier. It is used for its calming effect rather than as a collagen builder.
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5 is a three amino acid sequence with a fatty palmitoyl tail, sold under the trade name Syn-Coll. Unlike Matrixyl, which mimics a collagen fragment, this one is described as activating a growth factor that in turn drives collagen production.
SYN-AKE is a small synthetic peptide designed to imitate waglerin-1, a component of temple viper venom. It is sold for expression lines, working on the receiving side of the nerve-to-muscle junction rather than the sending side that Argireline targets.
GHK is the three amino acid sequence glycyl-histidyl-lysine, found naturally in human plasma. Sold without a copper ion attached, it is a different product from GHK-Cu, and the copper is not an inert addition.
Pielotax is a peptide extract taken from the kidney tissue of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-9. It is marketed for kidney function and urinary health.
Testoluten is a peptide extract taken from the testicular tissue of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-13. It is marketed for male reproductive function.
Ventfort is a peptide extract taken from the aortic tissue of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-3. It is marketed for vascular health and circulation.
Adamax is sold under one name by vendors who do not agree on what it contains. Some describe it as a modified Semax analogue for cognition. Others describe it as a blend of CJC-1295, ipamorelin and BPC-157. Those are not variations on a theme; they are unrelated products.
B7-33 is a 26 amino acid peptide taken from the B-chain of human relaxin-2. Relaxin itself is a two-chain hormone held together by three disulfide bonds, which makes it difficult and expensive to manufacture. B7-33 was designed as a simpler single-chain version that keeps the anti-fibrotic activity.
Davunetide is an eight amino acid fragment of activity-dependent neuroprotective protein, a protein important in brain development. Its sequence is NAPVSIPQ, which is why it is usually called NAP. It stabilises microtubules, the internal scaffolding neurons use to move material along their length.
Dermorphin is a seven amino acid peptide originally found in the skin of South American tree frogs. It is a potent and highly selective agonist at the mu-opioid receptor, the same receptor morphine acts on.
Ecnoglutide is a once-weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Sciwind Biosciences in Hangzhou. It is described as cAMP-biased, meaning it drives one arm of the receptor's signalling while producing much less receptor internalisation than semaglutide.
GDF-8 is myostatin, a growth factor your body makes to limit how much muscle it builds. Animals and people with natural myostatin mutations develop unusually large muscles, which is why the molecule became famous.
Retinalamin is a polypeptide extract taken from the retinal tissue of cattle, developed in Russia and used there in eye clinics. It belongs to the same family of tissue extracts as Cortexin, which is made from brain cortex.
Triptorelin is a synthetic analogue of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, the brain signal that tells the pituitary to release the hormones controlling the testes and ovaries. It is an approved medicine, marketed in the US as Trelstar and Triptodur.
Erythropoietin is a hormone your kidneys make to tell bone marrow to produce red blood cells. The synthetic version is an approved medicine for anaemia in kidney disease and in cancer patients on chemotherapy.
Thyreogen is a peptide extract taken from the thyroid tissue of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-2. It is marketed for thyroid function, energy and hormone balance.
Svetinorm is a peptide extract taken from the liver tissue of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-7. It is marketed for liver function and gall bladder health.
Vladonix is a peptide extract taken from the thymus tissue of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-6. It is marketed for immune function and healthy aging.
Chelohart is a peptide extract taken from the heart tissue of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-14. It is marketed for heart function and cardiovascular health.
Stamakort is a peptide extract taken from the stomach lining of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-10. It is marketed for digestion and the health of the stomach lining.
Gotratix is a peptide extract taken from the muscle tissue of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-18. It is marketed for muscle performance, recovery and age-related muscle loss.
Zhenoluten is a peptide extract taken from the ovarian tissue of young animals, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-15. It is marketed for female reproductive health and menopause symptoms.
Bonothyrk is a peptide extract taken from the parathyroid glands of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-21. It is marketed for calcium balance and bone health.
Chitomur is a peptide extract taken from the bladder wall of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-12. It is marketed for bladder control and urinary health.
Taxorest is a peptide extract taken from the lung and bronchial tissue of young calves, sold in capsules as peptide complex A-19. It is marketed for breathing and airway health.
Vialox is the trade name for pentapeptide-3, a five-amino-acid cosmetic peptide. In plain terms: it is meant to soften expression lines by blocking the signal that tells a facial muscle to contract.
Leuphasyl is the trade name for pentapeptide-18, a five-amino-acid cosmetic peptide modelled on enkephalin. In plain terms: it is meant to quiet the nerve that tells a facial muscle to contract, softening expression lines.
Progeline is the trade name for trifluoroacetyl tripeptide-2, a three-amino-acid cosmetic peptide. In plain terms: it targets slackness along the jaw and neck rather than fine lines, by acting on a protein linked to cell aging.
Decapeptide-12 is a ten-amino-acid cosmetic peptide sold as Lumixyl. In plain terms: it slows the enzyme that makes skin pigment, so it is used on dark spots and uneven tone.
Nonapeptide-1 is a nine-amino-acid cosmetic peptide sold as Melanostatine-5. In plain terms: it blocks the hormone signal that tells skin cells to make pigment, so it is used on dark spots and uneven tone.
Hexapeptide-11 is a six-amino-acid cosmetic peptide originally identified in yeast extract and now made synthetically. In plain terms: it is sold for skin elasticity and firmness, with little published to back it.
Acetyl tetrapeptide-5 is a four-amino-acid cosmetic peptide sold as Eyeseryl. In plain terms: it is used in eye creams for puffiness and bags rather than for wrinkles.
Myristoyl pentapeptide-17 is a cosmetic peptide with a fatty acid attached, used in eyelash and eyebrow serums. In plain terms: it is meant to make lashes look longer and thicker by supporting keratin production.
Oligopeptide-1 is the cosmetic name for epidermal growth factor, a 53-amino-acid human protein made by recombinant methods. In plain terms: it is a genuine growth signal used in repair-focused skincare, and it is not a small peptide like the rest of this category.
GHRP-1 is a growth hormone releasing peptide from the same 1980s research programme as GHRP-2 and GHRP-6. In plain terms: it signals a pulse of your own growth hormone, and it is the one member of the family that development moved past.
GHRP-3 is named individually on the WADA prohibited list as a growth hormone releasing peptide. In plain terms: a doping authority bans it by name, and beyond that there is almost nothing published about what it is.
GHRP-4 is a four-amino-acid growth hormone releasing peptide. In plain terms: it acts on the same receptor as GHRP-2 and GHRP-6, and unlike them it has no human research behind it at all.
GHRP-5 is a five-amino-acid growth hormone releasing peptide. In plain terms: it belongs to the same family as GHRP-2 and GHRP-6, and what is published about it stops at its molecular weight.
This blend puts retatrutide and cagrilintide in one vial. In plain terms: it copies the CagriSema idea of pairing a gut-hormone drug with an amylin analogue, except neither half of this pairing is approved and the combination has never been trialled.
This blend puts semax and selank in one vial or one nasal spray. In plain terms: semax is sold for focus and selank for anxiety, and the pairing is marketed as covering both at once.
Coremend is a vendor name for a three-peptide vial holding TB-500, BPC-157 and KPV. In plain terms: it is the Wolverine pairing with an anti-inflammatory tripeptide added, and it sits one component short of KLOW.
Melanotan III is a name that appears on vendor shelves alongside Melanotan I and II. In plain terms: no published source describes what molecule the name refers to.
PT-142 is a name sold next to PT-141 on the research market. In plain terms: PT-141 is a real, approved drug and no published source describes a distinct compound called PT-142.
Thymosin beta-15 is a relative of the thymosin beta-4 that TB-500 comes from. In plain terms: it is sold as another repair peptide, and the published work on it is about how aggressively prostate tumours spread.
SHLP2 is a small humanin-like peptide, one of six encoded inside the same mitochondrial gene region as humanin. In plain terms: it has a genuine research literature covering insulin sensitivity and mitochondrial function, all of it in cells and mice.
SHLP6 is another of the six small humanin-like peptides. In plain terms: it is sold alongside SHLP2 as if the two did the same thing, and the published work points in a different direction.
GDF-11 is a signalling protein closely related to myostatin. In plain terms: it became famous when studies suggested it declined with age and could rejuvenate old tissue, and the follow-up work has been arguing about that ever since.
Adropin is a peptide the body makes, studied mostly as a blood marker linked to insulin sensitivity and fatty liver. In plain terms: most of what is known about it comes from measuring it, not from giving it to anyone.
Irisin is a fragment released from a muscle protein during exercise, reported to turn white fat into calorie-burning brown fat. In plain terms: it made headlines as exercise in a molecule, and the tools used to measure it in blood were then shown to be unreliable.
Spexin is a short peptide identified by searching genome databases rather than by isolating it from tissue. In plain terms: animal work links it to appetite and body weight, and there is no human trial of giving it.
Tuftsin is a four-amino-acid fragment released from an antibody molecule. In plain terms: it stimulates the cells that engulf bacteria, and this library already carries the Russian anxiety drug built from it.
Splenopentin is a short fragment of splenin, a protein from the spleen. In plain terms: it is sold for immune support, and the research behind it is old, thin and hard to retrieve.
AICAR is a small molecule that switches on AMPK, the enzyme cells use to sense low energy. In plain terms: it produces some of the changes exercise produces, and the amounts used in the famous animal studies do not scale to a person.
SR9009 is a small molecule that acts on REV-ERB, part of the machinery running the body clock. In plain terms: it is sold as exercise in a capsule, and published work found it is barely absorbed when swallowed.
GW501516 is a PPAR-delta agonist developed as a metabolic drug and abandoned. In plain terms: animal testing found tumours across multiple organs, development stopped, and it is still sold as an endurance supplement.
Anamorelin is an oral drug that activates the ghrelin receptor, the same target as GHRP-2 and ipamorelin. In plain terms: it raises appetite and lean mass in people with cancer wasting, it is approved in Japan for exactly that, and US regulators were not convinced.
Macimorelin is an oral ghrelin receptor agonist approved by the FDA. In plain terms: it is given once, as a test to find out whether someone's pituitary can release growth hormone, not as something anyone takes repeatedly.
Lixisenatide is a daily GLP-1 receptor agonist approved for type 2 diabetes. In plain terms: it is a real approved drug from the same family as semaglutide, and it was outsold and withdrawn from the US market.
Albiglutide was a weekly GLP-1 receptor agonist approved in 2014. In plain terms: it worked, it was less effective than its rivals, it needed mixing before every injection, and its maker pulled it worldwide.
Beinaglutide is a recombinant human GLP-1 approved in China. In plain terms: unlike semaglutide and the rest, it is not a modified analogue. It is the human hormone itself, which is why it has to be injected three times a day.
Leuprolide is a GnRH agonist approved since the 1980s. In plain terms: it floods the switch that controls sex hormones until the switch stops responding, which shuts hormone production down.
Goserelin is a GnRH agonist delivered as a small implant placed under the skin of the abdomen. In plain terms: same hormone shutdown as leuprolide, delivered as a pellet that dissolves over weeks.
Cetrorelix is a GnRH antagonist used during IVF. In plain terms: it blocks the signal that would trigger ovulation, so eggs can be collected on schedule rather than lost early.
Degarelix is a GnRH antagonist approved for advanced prostate cancer. In plain terms: it drops testosterone immediately, without the surge that the older agonist drugs cause first.
Desmopressin is a modified version of vasopressin, the hormone that tells the kidneys to hold on to water. In plain terms: it reduces urine production, and it treats bleeding disorders too.
Abaloparatide is a bone-building drug approved for osteoporosis. In plain terms: like teriparatide it tells the body to build new bone rather than just slowing the loss, and it is based on a different parent hormone.
Calcitonin is a hormone that lowers blood calcium and slows bone breakdown. In plain terms: the salmon version is more potent in humans than our own, and it is approved for osteoporosis and Paget's disease while being the least effective drug in that space.
Enclomiphene is the trans-isomer of clomiphene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator that blocks estrogen feedback at the pituitary so LH, FSH and testosterone all rise. In plain terms: it stops the brain from seeing estrogen, so the brain tells the testicles to make more testosterone.
Clomiphene citrate is a selective estrogen receptor modulator supplied as a mixture of two isomers, enclomiphene and zuclomiphene, which have opposite effects at the estrogen receptor. In plain terms: it blocks estrogen feedback in the brain so ovulation is triggered in women, or so testosterone rises in men.
Tamoxifen is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that blocks estrogen in breast tissue while acting like estrogen in bone and the uterus. In plain terms: it blocks estrogen where breast tissue would respond to it, which is why it is used against breast cancer and against breast tissue growth in men.
Anastrozole is a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor that blocks the enzyme converting androgens into estrogen, lowering circulating estrogen rather than blocking its receptor. In plain terms: it stops the body making estrogen in the first place, so estrogen levels fall.
Letrozole is a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor that competitively binds the heme group of the aromatase enzyme, cutting estrogen production across every tissue that makes it. In plain terms: it shuts down estrogen production more completely than anastrozole does.
Toremifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator closely related to tamoxifen, approved for metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive or unknown tumours. In plain terms: it blocks estrogen in breast tissue much as tamoxifen does, and it also stretches out the heart's electrical cycle.
Cabergoline is an ergot-derived dopamine agonist with high affinity for the D2 receptor, approved for hyperprolactinaemic disorders that are either idiopathic or caused by a pituitary adenoma. In plain terms: it tells the pituitary to stop releasing prolactin, and prolactin drops.
TUDCA is tauroursodeoxycholic acid, the taurine conjugate of ursodeoxycholic acid, a water-loving bile acid that reduces endoplasmic reticulum stress and blocks the mitochondrial pathway to cell death. In plain terms: it helps bile flow and takes strain off liver cells, which is why people take it alongside things that are hard on the liver.
Lipo-C is a compounded sterile injection of lipotropic agents, most often methionine, inositol and choline, usually with vitamin B12 and sometimes L-carnitine, in a multi-dose vial. In plain terms: it is a vitamin and amino acid shot given weekly at clinics and sold as a fat-loss aid.
Levocarnitine is a naturally occurring compound that carries long-chain fatty acids across the mitochondrial membrane so they can be burned for energy. In plain terms: it is the shuttle that moves fat into the part of the cell that burns it.
Urolithin A is a small molecule your gut bacteria make from ellagitannins in pomegranates, walnuts and berries, and it triggers mitophagy, the process that clears out worn-out mitochondria. In plain terms: it tells cells to recycle their broken batteries.
NMN is nicotinamide mononucleotide, a direct precursor in the NAD+ salvage pathway, one step closer to NAD+ than nicotinamide riboside. In plain terms: it is raw material the body uses to make NAD+, which every cell needs for energy and repair.
Nicotinamide riboside is a form of vitamin B3 and an NAD+ precursor, sold almost entirely as the patented chloride salt Niagen. In plain terms: it is another raw material for making NAD+, one step further back than NMN.
Ac-SDKP is N-acetyl-Ser-Asp-Lys-Pro, an endogenous tetrapeptide cut from thymosin beta-4 by meprin-alpha and prolyl oligopeptidase, with antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory activity in animal models. In plain terms: it is the first four residues of TB-500, and the body already makes it on its own.
ATX-304 is a first-in-class pan-AMPK activator that works by protecting the Thr172 site from dephosphorylation, keeping AMPK switched on without lowering cellular ATP. In plain terms: it holds down the switch the body normally flips during exercise or fasting.
CMS-121 is a synthetic derivative of fisetin developed at the Salk Institute, acting on fatty acid synthase and lipid peroxidation rather than on amyloid. In plain terms: it is a lab-built version of a strawberry compound, aimed at brain ageing.
Phenibut is beta-phenyl-GABA, a GABA-B receptor agonist developed in the Soviet Union and still prescribed in Russia and Latvia for anxiety, insomnia and alcohol withdrawal. In plain terms: it is a sedative that works on the same receptor as baclofen, and tolerance builds quickly.
GB-115 is a synthetic dipeptide, N-(6-phenylhexanoyl)-glycyl-L-tryptophan amide, built as a retro-analogue of cholecystokinin-4 and acting as an antagonist at cholecystokinin receptors. In plain terms: it blocks the receptor that triggers panic, rather than damping the brain down the way a sedative does.
Alpha-Klotho is a large transmembrane protein whose extracellular portion is shed into the blood as soluble Klotho, acting as a circulating hormone with effects on kidney, brain and vascular ageing. In plain terms: it is a protein the body makes less of as you age, and mice given more of it live longer.
MK-777, also sold as Acetamoren, is marketed as a second-generation ghrelin receptor agonist and successor to MK-677, with claimed improvements in receptor selectivity and side effect profile. In plain terms: it is sold as a cleaner version of MK-677, and there is no published research on it at all.
FLGR242 is sold as a modified follistatin construct fused to an albumin-binding peptide, intended to inhibit myostatin for longer than follistatin does on its own. In plain terms: it is marketed as follistatin that lasts longer in the body.
Regeno is a three-peptide vial combining BPC-157, TB-500 and Cartalax, the Khavinson tripeptide AED, typically at 10 mg of each in a 30 mg vial. In plain terms: it is the usual two healing peptides with a third one aimed at cartilage.