GHK-Cu
NOT FDA APPROVEDCosmetic copper peptide
Also known as: Copper peptide, copper tripeptide-1
Used widely in topical cosmetics. Not an approved drug. Injectable use is off-label and gray-market.
Early evidence, mostly unproven in humans
- Regulatory standing. Sold as a research chemical, not approved
- Limited human data. Some human data exists, not conclusive
- Registered human trials. 3 registered studies on ClinicalTrials.gov, most advanced Phase 4
- 1 cited source. Cited references provided
A read on the weight of evidence and regulatory standing behind this compound. It is not a safety score, not a purity or quality rating, and not medical advice. It is not a claim that this compound treats, cures, or prevents any condition, and not an endorsement or a recommendation to buy or use it. A low score means the evidence is thin — not that a product is unsafe; a high score means the evidence is strong — not that anyone should take it. PLOBT is independent and takes no money from any vendor; no company can pay to change this score.
Proven: modest cosmetic benefits for skin when applied topically have some human support. NOT proven: injectable use for systemic or anti-aging benefit. Topical is the evidence-backed use.
What it is
A naturally occurring copper-binding peptide. In skin it is associated with collagen support, wound signalling, and antioxidant activity.
What the research says
Some human cosmetic studies suggest benefits when applied topically.
Mostly lab and animal evidence. Human data is limited.
Published literature
Live from Europe PMC. Peer-reviewed papers discussing GHK-Cu in their title or abstract, most-cited first. This is how much has been published — not how much is proven in humans. It counts landmark trials, animal studies and reviews alike.
Redox chemistry of copper-amyloid-beta: the generation of hydroxyl radical in the presence of ascorbate is linked to redox-potentials and aggregation state.
The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling.
Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+.
Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data.
Registered human trials
Live from ClinicalTrials.gov, the US NIH registry of human studies, refreshed daily. Counts studies where GHK-Cu is the intervention being tested.
Two-Part Study of the Effects of the X39 Patch on Circulating GHK and GHK-Cu Levels in Healthy Adults
Topical GHK-Cu Gel for Acute Skin Wound Healing
Trial Assessing the Impact on Facial Skin Quality, Hydration, and Skin Barrier of Three (3) Hydrafacial Treatments in Adults of All Skin Types.
FDA recalls & enforcement
GHK-Cu has no FDA recall or drug record at all — because it is not an FDA-regulated drug. That absence is not a safety signal. It means this compound is sold outside the system that inspects, tracks and recalls unsafe products in the first place.
Source: openFDA drug enforcement.
What people log it for
Descriptive, based on what users track. Not an endorsement or a suggested use.
Risks & unknowns
- Topical cosmetic use is generally considered low-risk; injectable use is not well studied.
- Quality of gray-market injectable product is unverified.
Doses reported in studies & protocols
Topical cosmetic formulas are typically low-concentration. There is no established injectable dose. This is not a recommendation.
Purity reality
For cosmetic use, formulation quality matters more than a COA.
None yet. PLOBT does not publish invented purity numbers. Real third-party COA data, mapped to vendor and batch, is in development — and it is the one thing we refuse to fake.
Sources
We cite peer-reviewed journals, PubMed/PMC, FDA and university sources, not vendor marketing.