Peptide Reference

Also known as: Anti-Obesity Drug 9604, hGH fragment 176-191, AOD9604

Modified C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone (lipolytic fragment)

AOD-9604 is a synthetic fragment of human growth hormone (amino acids 176–191) designed to isolate the fat-metabolism (lipolytic) portion of the molecule without the broader GH effects — notably, it is generally reported NOT to raise IGF-1. It is marketed for fat loss. The human evidence is modest: in a 23-week randomized clinical trial, participants on AOD-9604 1 mg/day lost on average about 2.8 kg vs about 0.8 kg on placebo. Importantly, AOD-9604 failed to show sufficient efficacy in later obesity development, and there is no robust, high-quality human evidence that adding it to a GLP-1/GIP therapy produces meaningful additional fat loss. Claims should be treated cautiously.

Also known as: Body Protection Compound 157, Bepecin, PL 14736 (related) …

Synthetic pentadecapeptide (derived from a sequence in human gastric juice protein)

BPC-157 is a 15-amino-acid peptide studied primarily in animal models, where it has shown effects on angiogenesis (new blood-vessel formation), tendon/ligament and gut healing, and modulation of inflammatory signaling. It is one of the most popular 'recovery' peptides among athletes, but the human evidence is very thin: a 2025 systematic review in the American Journal of Sports Medicine screened 544 articles and found only 1 clinical study met inclusion criteria, with the rest being preclinical animal models. As of early 2026 only about three small human pilot studies exist, and fewer than ~30 people have been studied across published human trials. It is not FDA-approved for any indication. Any claims about its benefits in humans should be treated as preliminary and unproven.

Also known as: CJC-1295 with DAC, CJC-1295 no-DAC (Mod GRF 1-29 / modified GRF), GHRH analog

Growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog / growth hormone secretagogue

CJC-1295 is a synthetic analog of GHRH that stimulates the pituitary to release growth hormone (GH). The 'with DAC' (Drug Affinity Complex) version has a markedly extended half-life (on the order of days vs. minutes/hours), producing a sustained rise in GH and IGF-1. A published human study (Walker et al., 2006, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism) showed CJC-1295 with DAC produced dose-dependent increases in plasma GH and IGF-1 lasting several days, with mean IGF-1 rising roughly 1.5- to 3-fold above baseline in healthy adults. It is commonly paired with ipamorelin. Despite pharmacologic data, it is not FDA-approved for human use and is prohibited in sport.

Also known as: Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-6, His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys

Growth hormone secretagogue (ghrelin receptor agonist, GHRP class)

GHRP-6 is a hexapeptide growth hormone secretagogue that stimulates GH release via the ghrelin receptor. Among the GHRPs it is notable for strongly stimulating appetite, and it tends to raise cortisol and prolactin more than the more selective ipamorelin. It has been used in endocrinology research as a GH-stimulation agent. It is not FDA-approved for human use, is sold mainly as a research chemical, and is prohibited in sport. Marketed performance and physique claims are not supported by robust controlled human outcome trials.

Also known as: GHRP (growth-hormone-releasing peptide), ghrelin receptor agonist

Selective growth hormone secretagogue (ghrelin / GHS-R1a receptor agonist)

Ipamorelin is a selective growth hormone secretagogue that stimulates GH release by activating the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a). It is often favored over older GHRPs because clinical research (published in the European Journal of Endocrinology) found it produces dose-dependent GH release with little or no effect on ACTH and cortisol, giving it a comparatively clean side-effect profile among GHRPs. It is frequently stacked with CJC-1295 for a synergistic GH pulse, although controlled human outcome data specifically on the combination remains limited. It is not FDA-approved for human use and is prohibited in sport.

Also known as: Bremelanotide, Vyleesi, melanocortin receptor agonist

Melanocortin receptor agonist (MC3R / MC4R)

PT-141 (bremelanotide) is a melanocortin receptor agonist that acts on central nervous system pathways involved in sexual desire and arousal — a different mechanism from blood-flow drugs like sildenafil. It is FDA-approved under the brand name Vyleesi (approved 2019) for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women, with a labeled dose of 1.75 mg subcutaneously at least 45 minutes before anticipated activity (no more than one dose per 24 hours and no more than 8 doses per month). It is also used off-label and compounded for other populations. A transient increase in blood pressure (and decrease in heart rate) is a documented effect to monitor.

Also known as: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus …

GLP-1 receptor agonist (incretin mimetic)

Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that mimics a gut hormone the body releases after eating. It slows gastric emptying, increases satiety, and enhances glucose-dependent insulin secretion, which together tend to reduce appetite and food intake. It is one of the best-studied compounds in this dataset, with large Phase 3 RCTs supporting its FDA-approved indications. A documented consideration during GLP-1 therapy is loss of lean (muscle) mass alongside fat mass, which is why adequate protein intake and resistance training are commonly recommended alongside use. This is educational information, not a recommendation to use semaglutide; it is a prescription medication that must be prescribed and supervised by a licensed clinician.

Also known as: Sermorelin acetate, GHRH (1-29), Geref (discontinued brand) …

Growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) analog — first 29 amino acids of endogenous GHRH

Sermorelin is a GHRH analog corresponding to the first 29 amino acids of natural GHRH. It stimulates the pituitary to release GH in a pulsatile, more physiologic pattern. It was previously FDA-approved (as Geref, approved 1990) for diagnostic and pediatric GH-related use, but the branded product was discontinued for commercial (not safety) reasons. It is now one of the more legally straightforward peptides in the U.S. compounding market: it is available via licensed compounding pharmacies with a prescription and is not on the FDA restricted compounding list. It is, however, prohibited in competitive sport. Educational information only — use requires a prescription and clinician supervision.

Also known as: Thymosin Beta-4 fragment, TB4 fragment, TB-500 (synthetic)

Synthetic peptide fragment related to Thymosin Beta-4 (actin-binding regulatory protein)

TB-500 is a synthetic peptide associated with the actin-binding protein Thymosin Beta-4. In animal and cell studies it has been linked to cell migration, angiogenesis, and tissue repair, and it is marketed for wound healing and muscle/tendon recovery. As with BPC-157, robust human efficacy data is lacking — there are no completed large, controlled human trials supporting the marketed recovery claims. It is frequently stacked with BPC-157 in 'recovery' protocols, but that combination has not been validated in controlled human research. Claims should be treated as preliminary.

Also known as: Mounjaro, Zepbound, GLP-1/GIP dual agonist

Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist (incretin mimetic)

Tirzepatide activates both the GLP-1 and the GIP receptors. In the head-to-head SURMOUNT-5 Phase 3b RCT (published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 2025), tirzepatide produced greater average weight loss than semaglutide over 72 weeks (approximately 20.2% vs 13.7% reduction in body weight). The dual mechanism is hypothesized to influence fat oxidation, but lean-mass loss can still occur with rapid weight reduction, so protein intake and resistance training are commonly emphasized. Like semaglutide, this is a prescription medication that must be prescribed and supervised by a licensed clinician; the information here is educational only.