Evidence-based articles on peptide science plus timely regulatory and industry coverage, cited, no hype. News items are tagged News so you can tell them apart.
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Liraglutide is Novo Nordisk's once-daily acylated GLP-1 analog. Here is the C16 albumin chemistry, the SCALE obesity data, the LEADER cardiovascular readout, STEP 8 versus weekly semaglutide, and why a catalog vial is not Saxenda.
MK-677 (ibutamoren) is Merck's oral small-molecule ghrelin mimetic. Ipamorelin is a five-residue peptide. Here is the chemistry, the Nass and Copinschi data, the hip-fracture CHF signal, and why neither is an FDA-approved GH drug.
FOXO4-DRI is a D-retro-inverso peptide built to break FOXO4 and p53 binding in senescent cells. Here is the IMR90 biology, the mouse chemotoxicity and kidney data, the 2025 NMR follow-up, and why a catalog vial is not an approved senolytic.
ARA-290 is an 11-amino-acid peptide modeled on erythropoietin helix B. Here is the EPOR and CD131 biology, the 2012 sarcoidosis pilot, the 2017 corneal-nerve phase 2b, and why a catalog vial is not an FDA-approved EPO drug.
Collagen peptides in a tub are hydrolyzed protein fragments. BPC-157 is a 15-residue sequence from gastric juice. Here is the Gly-X-Y biology, the oral absorption data, and why a scoop is not a research vial.
Vosoritide is a 39-amino-acid analog of C-type natriuretic peptide, sold as Voxzogo for achondroplasia with open growth plates. Here is the FGFR3 and NPR-B biology, the Lancet phase 3 growth-velocity data, and why a catalog CNP vial is not that product.
Mazdutide is a once-weekly oxyntomodulin analog from Lilly, licensed to Innovent. Here is the GLP-1 and glucagon biology, the Chinese phase 2 data, the GLORY-1 NEJM readout, and why a catalog vial is not the NMPA product.
Ipamorelin is a five-residue GHRP from Novo Nordisk. Here is the 1998 swine selectivity data, the 1999 human PK/PD, the ileus trial that missed, and why a catalog vial is not an FDA-approved GH drug.
Humanin is a 24-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial 16S rRNA. Here is the Hashimoto 2001 discovery, the Bax and gp130 biology, the insulin-clamp data, and what Yen 2020 actually showed about lifespan.
DSIP is a nine-amino-acid peptide from rabbit sleep dialysate. Here is the sequence, the 1980s human infusion data, the 1987 negative insomnia trial, and why a 2006 review still called it an unresolved riddle.
Most research peptides are built one amino acid at a time on a resin bead. Here is Merrifield's 1963 method, why Fmoc chemistry won, what HPLC is cleaning up, and why a catalog vial is not a licensed drug.
Teduglutide is a Gly2 analog of glucagon-like peptide-2, sold as Gattex for parenteral-dependent short bowel syndrome. Here is the L-cell biology, the STEPS data, and why a catalog GLP-2 vial is not that product.
Survodutide is a once-weekly glucagon and GLP-1 dual agonist peptide from Zealand Pharma, licensed to Boehringer Ingelheim. Here is the oxyntomodulin biology, the phase 2 obesity and MASH data, and what SYNCHRONIZE-1 actually reported.
IGF-1 DES is native IGF-1 minus Gly-Pro-Glu. Here is the IGFBP biology, the L6 myoblast potency data, the rat and mouse studies, and why a catalog vial is not Increlex.
LL-37 is the only human cathelicidin. Here is the hCAP-18 processing, the vitamin D CAMP circuit, the TB macrophage data, why excess peptide drives psoriasis and rosacea, and what the venous-ulcer trials actually showed.
Melanotan II is a cyclic alpha-MSH analog from the Arizona tanning program. Here is the MC1R and MC4R biology, the 1990s human data, and why a catalog vial is not Vyleesi or Scenesse.
A vendor PDF is not proof. Open the testing lab's portal, search the report ID or lot, and confirm the compound, method, and date match the vial.
Once you add water, hydrolysis and deamidation start, and both run faster with heat. Pharma stability guidance is why reconstituted peptide drug labels say 2 to 8 C.
Lyophilized peptide powder is built for dry, cold storage. Water restarts hydrolysis and deamidation. Here is what Bachem, ICH Q5C, and FDA labels for insulin and Ozempic actually say.
Pepsin, mucus, and tight junctions destroy most swallowed peptides. Oral semaglutide works because SNAC buffers a patch of stomach wall. Here is the Buckley mechanism, the 0.4 to 1 percent bioavailability, and what PIONEER and OASIS actually showed.
Setmelanotide is a cyclic MC4R agonist peptide sold as Imcivree. Here is the leptin-melanocortin biology, the POMC, BBS, and TRANSCEND data, and why it is not a substitute for semaglutide.
Follistatin-344 is a 344-residue splice variant used in AAV muscle trials. Catalogs sell it as a peptide. Here is the myostatin biology, the Becker dystrophy walk-test data, and why a vial is not that experiment.
KPV is the three-amino-acid tail of α-MSH. Mouse colitis studies and PepT1 uptake data are real. Human trials are not. Here is the mechanism, the 2008 gut papers, nanoparticle delivery work, and what FDA staff told compounding advisors in 2026.
Aug 28, 2026: FDA approved Mimrylo (rusfertide), the first hepcidin-mimetic drug for adults with polycythemia vera, after VERIFY showed fewer phlebotomies.
Forums treat TB-500 and thymosin beta-4 as interchangeable recovery peptides. They are not. Here is the 43-amino-acid protein, the seven-amino-acid fragment actually sold as TB-500, and which molecule the human data belongs to.
People lump peptides and anabolic steroids together because both show up in gym conversations. They are not the same chemistry, not the same receptors, and not the same legal class. Here is the plain-language difference.
Most of the weight lost on semaglutide or tirzepatide returns after the drug is stopped. Here is the STEP and SURMOUNT withdrawal data, why the biology predicts the rebound, and why that is an argument for treating obesity as a chronic condition — not a reason to dismiss the peptides.
Native peptides last minutes. Semaglutide lasts a week. The difference is not the receptor, it is the pharmacokinetic engineering bolted onto the molecule. Here is how lipidation, DAC albumin bioconjugation, PEGylation, and FcRn recycling turn a 2-minute peptide into a once-weekly drug, and why the same chemistry explains the dosing schedules clinicians see in the wild.
PEG-MGF is a PEGylated version of the IGF-1 Ec E-domain peptide that muscle researchers call mechano growth factor. Here is how MGF differs from mature IGF-1, what human exercise studies and cell work actually showed, and why the research peptide is not the same thing as the splice variant your muscle makes after a hard set.
SS-31 is a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide that binds cardiolipin on the inner mitochondrial membrane. In 2025 the FDA granted accelerated approval to elamipretide as Forzinity for Barth syndrome. Here is the mechanism, what TAZPOWER and MMPOWER-3 actually showed, and how the research peptide differs from the approved drug.
Kisspeptin sits above GnRH in the reproductive axis. Here is how kisspeptin-10 and kisspeptin-54 work, what human trials actually showed, and why enthusiasts keep confusing the two isoforms.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids that act as biological signals. Here is what they are, how they differ from proteins and small-molecule drugs, which ones are already FDA-approved medicines, and how research peptides fit into the picture.
Bremelanotide is a cyclic melanocortin peptide agonist approved as Vyleesi for acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. Here is the mechanism, RECONNECT phase 3 data, safety framework, and how it differs from research PT-141.
Cagrilintide is a once-weekly amylin analogue that slows gastric emptying and drives central satiety. Combined with semaglutide as CagriSema, phase 3 REDEFINE trials reported mean weight loss above 20% at 68 weeks. Here is the mechanism and what the data actually show.
Hexarelin is a synthetic hexapeptide GH secretagogue known for strong growth hormone pulses, faster receptor desensitization than later GHRPs, and a distinct body of cardiac research. Here is what human and animal studies actually show.
Semax is a synthetic ACTH(4-10) analog studied for nootropic and neuroprotective effects, largely via BDNF pathways. Here is the mechanism, human data, safety signals, and how the evidence actually stacks up.
CJC-1295 with DAC and without DAC are not interchangeable GHRH analogs. Here is how the Drug Affinity Complex changes half-life, GH pulsatility, IGF-1 dynamics, and what the human data actually show.
Tesamorelin is a synthetic GHRH analog with an FDA indication for excess visceral adipose tissue in HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Here is the mechanism, pivotal trial data, safety monitoring framework, and how it differs from research GH secretagogues.
At the July 23-24, 2026 PCAC meeting, FDA staff proposed that all seven peptides under review NOT be added to the 503A Bulks List. Here is what the briefing docs actually say, and what they do not.
Bacteriostatic water is the standard solvent for reconstituting research peptides. Here is what it actually is, why it matters, how it differs from sterile water, and the basics of using it correctly.
Retatrutide hits three receptor targets, GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon, and posted mean weight loss of 24.2% at 48 weeks in phase 2 trials. Here's what the research actually shows, how it compares to semaglutide and tirzepatide, and where it stands in 2026.
GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring tripeptide that declines with age and modulates over 4,000 human genes involved in tissue repair, antioxidant defense, and regeneration. Here is what the peer-reviewed research actually shows.
GHRP-2 and GHRP-6 are synthetic ghrelin mimetics that trigger pulsatile growth hormone release at the pituitary. Here's what the peer-reviewed research actually shows about how they differ, where the science is solid, and where the evidence runs thin.
Vendors lean on 'ISO 17025' and 'accredited lab' to sell trust. We went to the accreditation registries, A2LA, ANAB, PJLA, IAS, and CMS, and checked. No lab issuing peptide COAs has a publicly verifiable ISO 17025 scope covering peptide purity or identity. Here is the lab-by-lab record, and what actually signals a trustworthy COA.
Sermorelin is a 29-amino-acid analog of endogenous GHRH that stimulates your own pituitary to release growth hormone rather than replacing it externally. Here's the mechanism, what the research actually shows, and how it compares to CJC-1295.
Selank is a synthetic heptapeptide derived from tuftsin, approved in Russia for generalized anxiety disorder and studied for cognitive enhancement and immune modulation. Here's what the peer-reviewed evidence actually shows, and what its shifting regulatory status means in 2026.
On July 23-24, 2026, the FDA's Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee reviews seven peptides for the 503A Bulks List, the biggest peptide compounding vote in years. Here's what's actually on the table.
Thymosin Alpha-1 (Tα1) is an endogenous thymic peptide with a 40-year clinical evidence base spanning viral hepatitis, sepsis, cancer immunotherapy, and COVID-19. Here is a mechanistic and evidence-based overview for clinicians navigating its current regulatory landscape.
Muscle loss on semaglutide or tirzepatide is a real concern, but the data is more nuanced than headlines suggest. Here's what major clinical trial DXA substudies actually found, and what the emerging evidence says about protecting lean mass.
IGF-1 LR3 is a synthetic analog of insulin-like growth factor-1 engineered to evade binding proteins and extend its half-life. Here's an honest look at the preclinical mechanisms, what researchers have found, and why the fitness world is paying attention.
MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded inside mitochondrial DNA, not nuclear DNA. Discovered in 2015, it acts as an exercise-responsive metabolic regulator with compelling preclinical data for insulin sensitivity, muscle health, and longevity. Here's an honest look at where the science stands.
Epitalon is a synthetic tetrapeptide studied for telomere elongation, melatonin restoration, and geroprotective effects. Here's an honest breakdown of the science, what's compelling, what's still limited, and what makes this compound worth watching.
AOD-9604 is a synthetic fragment of human growth hormone engineered to isolate its fat-burning properties without the side effects of full HGH. Here's what the research actually shows, and where the evidence runs thin.
The first head-to-head randomized trial comparing tirzepatide and semaglutide for weight loss is in. Here's what SURMOUNT-5 found, and what the full body of evidence tells us about how these two peptide therapies compare.
Safety is the first question anyone should ask about peptides. Here's an honest, evidence-based look at what we know, what we don't know, and how to think about risk when evaluating peptide use.
The regulatory framework governing compounded peptides is undergoing its most significant changes in a decade. Here's the authoritative breakdown of 503A vs. 503B, the PCAC July 2026 review, and what it means for practitioners and patients.
GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide and tirzepatide are famous for weight loss, but the science reveals a far richer picture, cardiovascular protection, neurological effects, and metabolic benefits that go well beyond the scale.
Growth hormone secretagogues like Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 work by stimulating your body's own GH release rather than replacing it externally. Here's how they work, how they differ, and what the research shows.
BPC-157 and TB-500 are the two most-discussed recovery peptides in athletic and fitness circles. Here's what the research actually says about how they work, why they're often stacked, and what the evidence looks like.
A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is your best tool for evaluating peptide vendor quality. Learn what a real COA contains, what red flags to look for, and how to verify a vendor isn't faking their testing.
BPC-157 is one of the most-discussed research peptides in wellness communities, but what is it actually? This plain-language guide explains the science, what researchers have studied, and what you should know.
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