Peptides A to Z

A

• AOD-9604Also called Tyr-hGH 177-191A fragment of growth hormone once tested as an obesity drug. In most of those trials it did no better than placebo.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Nomination withdrawn or removed

  WADA

  Prohibited

B

• BPC-157Also called Body Protection Compound 157, PL 14736, PCO-02Fifteen amino acids from a protein found in gastric juice. Nearly all the research is in rats, and the human studies are tiny pilots.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  HHS interim enforcement policy

  WADA

  Prohibited

• Bremelanotide (PT-141)Also called Vyleesi, Bremelanotide acetateApproved in 2019 as Vyleesi, for low sexual desire in premenopausal women. FDA calls the "PT-141" sold online an unapproved drug.

  FDA

  Approved

  503A

  Component of an FDA-approved drug

C

• CagrilintideAlso called CagriSema (with semaglutide)An experimental amylin drug, tested on its own and with semaglutide as CagriSema. Pharmacies may not compound it.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Not nominated

• CJC-1295Also called DAC:GRF, Tetra-substituted GRF (1-29)A long-lasting copy of growth hormone-releasing hormone. Its developer stopped trials in 2006 after a death.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Nomination withdrawn or removed

  WADA

  Prohibited

E

• EpitalonAlso called Epithalon, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly, AEDG peptideFour amino acids modeled on a pineal gland extract. The research is mostly animal work and small Russian studies.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  HHS interim enforcement policy

G

• GHK-CuAlso called Copper peptide, Copper tripeptide-1, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copperA copper-bound peptide of three amino acids that occurs in human blood. Pharmacies may compound non-injectable forms while FDA reviews it.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Category 1

• GHRP-2 and GHRP-6Also called Pralmorelin, Growth hormone releasing peptide-2, Growth hormone releasing peptide-6Two six-amino-acid peptides from the 1980s that trigger growth hormone release. FDA flags both as compounding safety risks.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Category 3

  WADA

  Prohibited

I

• IpamorelinReleases growth hormone through the ghrelin receptor. Its main human trial, on bowel recovery after surgery, found no clear benefit over placebo.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Nomination withdrawn or removed

  WADA

  Prohibited

K

• KisspeptinAlso called Metastin, KiSS-1 peptideA natural signal that switches on the reproductive hormones, studied in IVF. FDA puts kisspeptin-10 in Category 2 over safety concerns.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Category 2

  WADA

  Prohibited

• KPVAlso called Lysine-proline-valine, Lys-Pro-Val, alpha-MSH (11-13)Three amino acids from the tail end of the hormone alpha-MSH. FDA found no human studies of it at all.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  HHS interim enforcement policy

L

• LiraglutideAlso called Victoza, SaxendaThe once-daily GLP-1 drug in Victoza and Saxenda. FDA approved the first generic in December 2024.

  FDA

  Approved

  503A

  Component of an FDA-approved drug

• LL-37Also called Human cathelicidin, hCAP18 (precursor), FALL-39An antimicrobial peptide the body makes itself. Small trials tested it on leg and foot ulcers, with mixed results.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Nomination withdrawn or removed

M

• Melanotan IIAlso called MT-II, MT2, Melanotan 2Mimics the hormone alpha-MSH and has never been approved. Case reports describe melanoma and kidney injury in people who used it.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Nomination withdrawn or removed

• MK-677 (Ibutamoren)Also called Ibutamoren mesylate, MK-0677, L-163,191Not a peptide at all but an oral drug that raises growth hormone. FDA lists it as a compounding risk, partly over possible heart failure.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Category 2

  WADA

  Prohibited

• MOTS-cAlso called Mitochondrial open reading frame of the 12S rRNA-cA peptide coded in mitochondrial DNA, first described in 2015. So far the research is almost all in mice and rats.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  HHS interim enforcement policy

  WADA

  Prohibited

O

• OxytocinAlso called PitocinThe labor hormone. As Pitocin it is approved to start or strengthen labor and to control bleeding after birth.

  FDA

  Approved

  503A

  Component of an FDA-approved drug

R

• RetatrutideAlso called LY3437943An experimental drug that acts on three hormone receptors at once: GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon. Still in trials, and not allowed in compounding.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Not nominated

S

• SelankAlso called TP-7, Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-ProA Russian-developed copy of tuftsin, a natural immune peptide. FDA says key information on its safety in humans is missing.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Nomination withdrawn or removed

• SemaglutideAlso called Ozempic, Wegovy, RybelsusThe drug in Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus. The shortage that allowed mass compounding ended in February 2025.

  FDA

  Approved

  503A

  Component of an FDA-approved drug

• SemaxAlso called ACTH(4-10) analog, ACTH(4-7)PGP, Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-ProBased on a fragment of the hormone ACTH. It is a registered drug in Russia and has never been approved in the US.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  HHS interim enforcement policy

• SermorelinAlso called Geref, GHRH (1-29), GRF 1-29Approved as Geref in 1990 and taken off the market in 2008. FDA later found that was not for safety or effectiveness reasons.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Component of an FDA-approved drug

  WADA

  Prohibited

T

• TB-500 and Thymosin Beta-4Also called Thymosin beta-4 fragment (LKKTETQ), Ac-LKKTETQ, Tβ4TB-500 is a seven-amino-acid piece of thymosin beta-4. FDA found no human studies of TB-500 itself, and WADA bans both.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  HHS interim enforcement policy

  WADA

  Prohibited

• TesamorelinAlso called Egrifta, Egrifta SV, Egrifta WRApproved in 2010 and sold as Egrifta, to reduce belly fat in adults with HIV and lipodystrophy.

  FDA

  Approved

  503A

  Biologic, not eligible for 503A compounding

  WADA

  Prohibited

• Thymosin Alpha-1Also called Thymalfasin, Ta1, Tα1An immune peptide first taken from calf thymus in 1977. FDA advisers voted 17 to 4 against adding it to the compounding list.

  FDA

  Not approved

  503A

  Nomination withdrawn or removed

• TirzepatideAlso called Mounjaro, Zepbound, LY3298176The drug in Mounjaro and Zepbound, acting on two gut hormone receptors. Its shortage ended in late 2024.

  FDA

  Approved

  503A

  Component of an FDA-approved drug