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For information & educational purposes only — not medical advice, no dosing or usage recommendation.

Beginner view — everything explained simply.

✨ Simply explained

Welcome to PeptidLotse

We're glad you're here. In very plain words, you'll learn what peptides are and what to keep in mind.

So what are peptides?

Picture tiny chains made of building blocks called amino acids. Chains like these are called peptides. In the body they work like little messengers: they carry news from one place to another. Some peptides are tested medicines, others are only studied in the lab.

  • Peptides are short chains of amino acids
  • They act like little messengers in the body
  • Not every peptide is an approved medicine

What is PeptidLotse?

PeptidLotse is an honest guide through the topic of peptides. We explain and put things in context – nothing more. We sell nothing and give no instructions on how to use anything. This is only about understanding.

  • We only want to explain, not sell
  • No doses and no how-to tips
  • Independent and as honest as possible

What you'll find in every profile

There is a profile for each peptide. It tells you honestly what the substance is, whether it's allowed or an approved medicine, and what risks exist. Things the internet hypes as miracles, we show as a claim – not as a proven fact.

  • What the substance is, in plain words
  • Its legal status: allowed or not
  • What risks and open questions exist

Take your time to look around

Browse through the peptides and read the page about safety and risks. It matters and helps you get a good feel for the topic. For health questions, a doctor is always the best place to turn.

The most important thing in one sentence

PeptidLotse explains peptides to you honestly and simply, sells nothing and replaces no conversation with a doctor – we just help you understand the topic better.

Your guide through peptide research · fact-based & honest

Understand peptides — scientific, honest, in context.

An educational resource on common peptides: how they work, what the research actually shows, their legal status and the risks involved. Deliberately without dosing, reconstitution or injection instructions.

Abstract molecular illustration in clinical blue

What are peptides?

Short chains of amino acids that act in the body as hormones and signaling molecules. Some are approved medicines, others purely research substances.

What this app does

It explains mechanisms of action, classifies regulatory status honestly and links to primary sources (PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov, EMA, FDA).

What it deliberately avoids

No dosing, no reconstitution or injection instructions, no “protocols”. Decisions about use belong in a doctor’s hands.

What you can rely on

Source-based, not forum lore
Status first, no marketing
Deliberately no usage content
Honest about uncertainty
AboutSource libraryContent status: continuously maintained · Site structure as of: June 2026.

Regulatory status at a glance

Every profile is clearly labeled. The status is the most important information — it determines whether and how a substance is even legitimately available.

PrescriptionApproved · prescription-only
ApprovedApproved as a medicine
InvestigationalIn clinical trials only · not approved
Not approvedNot approved for humans
CosmeticCosmetic ingredient (topical)

Regulatory ticker

Sourced updates from authorities on peptide drugs — with citation, most recent first.

  1. SafetyEU

    EMA: NAION classified as a very rare side effect of semaglutide

    The EMA's PRAC safety committee classified the rare optic-nerve circulatory disorder NAION as a very rare side effect of semaglutide medicines (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy). Product information is being updated accordingly.

    EMASource
  2. ApprovalEU

    EMA assesses tirzepatide (Mounjaro) for obstructive sleep apnoea

    The EMA assessed the use of tirzepatide (Mounjaro) in moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea associated with obesity — an example of how an approved medicine's authorised uses expand over time.

    EMASource
  3. RegulationUSA

    FDA: end of GLP-1 shortages limits mass compounding

    After the FDA declared the semaglutide and tirzepatide shortages resolved, the transition windows for compounding these substances expired in 2025. The FDA also continually evaluates which bulk substances are permissible under §503A at all.

    FDASource
  4. RegulationGlobal

    WADA Prohibited List 2025: research peptides remain banned in sport

    Under the World Anti-Doping Agency's list effective 1 January 2025, numerous class-S2 growth factors and peptide hormones remain banned in sport — including TB-500 (thymosin β-4) and growth-hormone secretagogues.

    WADASource

A curated selection of sourced updates — not a complete overview and not legal advice.

Substance profiles

49 peptides — fact-based and clearly sourced.

Prescription

Semaglutid

Metabolism & Weight

GLP-1 receptor agonist — approved, prescription-only.

Also known as: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus

View profile
Prescription

Tirzepatid

Metabolism & Weight

Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist — approved, prescription-only.

Also known as: Mounjaro, Zepbound

View profile
Investigational

Retatrutid

Metabolism & Weight

Triple agonist (GIP/GLP-1/glucagon) — in clinical testing, NOT approved.

Also known as: LY3437943

View profile
Not approved

BPC-157

Tissue & Regeneration

Synthetic peptide — predominantly animal data, NOT approved for humans.

Also known as: Body Protection Compound 157, PL 14736 (verwandt)

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Not approved

TB-500 / Thymosin β4

Tissue & Regeneration

Actin-binding peptide — research substance, NOT approved.

Also known as: TB-500, Thymosin Beta-4, Tβ4

View profile
Cosmetic

GHK-Cu

Skin & Cosmetics

Copper-binding tripeptide — established in topical cosmetics.

Also known as: Kupfer-Tripeptid-1, Copper Peptide, Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysin:Cu

View profile
Not approved

CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin

Growth Hormone System

Growth hormone secretagogues — research peptides, not approved for humans.

Also known as: Modified GRF (1-29), GHRH-Analogon + GHRP, Ipamorelin

View profile
Not approved

AOD-9604

Metabolism & Weight

HGH fragment — clinically investigated, but not approved as a weight-loss medication.

Also known as: HGH-Fragment 176-191, Anti-Obesity Drug 9604

View profile
Prescription

Tesamorelin

Metabolism & Weight

GHRH analogue — approved prescription-only in the USA (HIV lipodystrophy).

Also known as: Egrifta

View profile
Not approved

Semax

Cognition & Neuro

Neuropeptide — registered as a medicine in Russia, not approved in the EU/USA.

Also known as: ACTH(4-7)-Analogon, Heptapeptid

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Not approved

Selank

Cognition & Neuro

Anxiolytic neuropeptide (tuftsin analogue) — registered in Russia, not approved in the EU/USA.

Also known as: TP-7, Tuftsin-Analogon

View profile
Cosmetic

Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8)

Skin & Cosmetics

Cosmetic peptide — topical in anti-aging formulations.

Also known as: Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8

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Cosmetic

Matrixyl (Palmitoyl-Peptide)

Skin & Cosmetics

Cosmetic matrikines — topical to stimulate collagen formation.

Also known as: Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

View profile
Not approved

Epitalon (Epithalon)

Longevity & Immune System

Synthetic tetrapeptide — research substance for aging, not approved.

Also known as: Epithalon, AEDG, Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly

View profile
Prescription

Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA-1)

Longevity & Immune System

Immunomodulating peptide — approved as Zadaxin in several countries, not FDA-approved.

Also known as: Tα1, Zadaxin, Thymalfasin

View profile
Not approved

Sermorelin

Growth Hormone System

GHRH analogue — was approved as Geref, today no approved finished medicinal product.

Also known as: Geref, GHRH (1-29), Sermorelin-Acetat

View profile
Not approved

GHRP-2

Growth Hormone System

Synthetic ghrelin mimetic — traded as a research substance, banned in sport.

Also known as: Pralmorelin, KP-102, Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2

View profile
Not approved

GHRP-6

Growth Hormone System

The first GH-releasing peptide — a strong appetite trigger, not approved.

Also known as: Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-6, SKF-110679

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Not approved

Hexarelin

Growth Hormone System

The strongest GH releaser of the GHRP group — with desensitization and cardiac research.

Also known as: Examorelin, HEX

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Prescription

Somatropin (HGH 191AA)

Growth Hormone System

The real recombinant growth hormone — approved, prescription-only, banned in sport.

Also known as: rhGH, Genotropin, Norditropin

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Prescription

PT-141 (Bremelanotid)

Melanocortin System

Melanocortin agonist for sexual desire — approved in the USA as Vyleesi.

Also known as: Bremelanotid, Vyleesi, PT-141

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Not approved

Melanotan II

Melanocortin System

A tanning peptide without approval — with documented melanoma and priapism cases.

Also known as: MT-II, MT-2

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Prescription

Melanotan I (Afamelanotid)

Melanocortin System

Approved as an implant (Scenesse) — but only for the rare light disease EPP, not for tanning.

Also known as: Afamelanotid, Scenesse, MT-1

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Not approved

MOTS-c

Longevity & Immune System

A mitochondrially encoded peptide — an "exercise mimetic" of research, not approved.

Also known as: MOTSc, Mitochondrial ORF of the 12S rRNA type-c

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Prescription

SS-31 (Elamipretid)

Longevity & Immune System

A cardiolipin-stabilizing mitochondrial peptide — approved in the USA for Barth syndrome in 2025.

Also known as: Elamipretid, Bendavia, MTP-131

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Not approved

5-Amino-1MQ

Metabolism & Weight

Not a peptide but an NNMT inhibitor — fat-metabolism research without human data.

Also known as: 5-Amino-1-Methylquinolinium, NNMT-Inhibitor

View profile
Not approved

KPV

Tissue & Regeneration

An anti-inflammatory tripeptide from the α-MSH terminus — gut and research focus, not approved.

Also known as: Lysin-Prolin-Valin, α-MSH(11-13)

View profile
Not approved

DSIP

Cognition & Neuro

A neuropeptide with contradictory sleep evidence — not approved.

Also known as: Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide, Delta-Schlaf-induzierendes Peptid

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Not approved

LL-37 (Cathelicidin)

Longevity & Immune system

Endogenous antimicrobial peptide of the innate immune defense — experimental, not approved as a medicine.

Also known as: Cathelicidin LL-37, hCAP18/LL-37, CAMP

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Investigational

Follistatin

Pure research compound

Endogenous myostatin and activin inhibitor from muscle research — experimental, not approved as a medicine

Also known as: Follistatin, FST, FS

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Not approved

Humanin

Longevity & Immune system

Mitochondria-derived 24-amino-acid peptide from neuro- and longevity research — experimental, not approved.

Also known as: HN, Humanin (HN), HNG (S14G-Humanin, Analogon)

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Investigational

VIP (Vasoaktives Intestinales Peptid)

Longevity & Immune system

Endogenous 28-amino-acid neuropeptide with immunomodulatory action — as the drug aviptadil it is in clinical testing, not broadly approved

Also known as: VIP, Vasoaktives Intestinales Peptid, Vasoaktives intestinales Polypeptid

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Investigational

Kisspeptin

Pure research compound

Reproductive neuropeptide of the GnRH axis — subject of clinical research, not approved.

Also known as: Kisspeptin-54, Kisspeptin-10, KP-54

View profile
Prescription

Liraglutid

Metabolism & Weight

Approved, prescription-only GLP-1 receptor agonist for type 2 diabetes and obesity – a predecessor of semaglutide and not a substance for self-administration.

Also known as: Victoza, Saxenda, Liraglutide

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Prescription

Dulaglutid

Metabolism & Weight

Long-acting GLP-1 receptor agonist (Fc fusion protein), once weekly – an approved prescription diabetes medication.

Also known as: Trulicity, LY2189265, Dulaglutide

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Prescription

Exenatid

Metabolism & Weight

Synthetic exendin-4: the first approved GLP-1 receptor agonist — originally derived from the saliva of the Gila monster.

Also known as: Byetta, Bydureon, Bydureon BCise

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Investigational

Cagrilintid

Metabolism & Weight

Long-acting amylin analogue in clinical investigation for weight regulation – not approved.

Also known as: Cagrilintide, AM833, NNC0174-0833

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Investigational

Survodutid

Metabolism & Weight

Experimental dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist – in clinical trials for obesity and MASH, not approved anywhere.

Also known as: BI 456906, Survodutide (INN)

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Prescription

Mazdutid

Metabolism & Weight

Dual GLP-1/glucagon receptor agonist (oxyntomodulin analog), approved in China, under investigation elsewhere

Also known as: Mazdutide, IBI362, LY3305677

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Prescription

Setmelanotid

Melanocortin system

Approved MC4R agonist – exclusively for narrowly defined, genetically caused rare obesity forms, not a general weight-loss drug.

Also known as: Imcivree, RM-493, BIM-22493

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Not approved

Pentadeca Arginate (PDA)

Tissue & Regeneration

Heavily hyped "next-gen BPC-157" – almost no human data, no PDA-specific studies, not approved as a medicine.

Also known as: PDA, Pentadecapeptid-Arginat, BPC-157 Arginat

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Investigational

ARA-290 (Cibinetide)

Tissue & Regeneration

Non-erythropoietic EPO derivative being investigated in early clinical trials as an agonist of the "innate repair receptor" against neuropathic symptoms.

Also known as: Cibinetide, ARA290, ARA 290

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Not approved

Ipamorelin

Growth hormone system

Selective growth hormone secretagogue — research peptide, never approved as a medicine.

Also known as: NNC 26-0161, Ipamorelin-Pentapeptid, selektives GH-Sekretagogum (GHRP)

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Not approved

IGF-1 LR3

Growth hormone system

Makes it clear: IGF-1 LR3 is a laboratory/research reagent, not a medicine approved for humans – with serious, genuinely documented risks (including hypoglycaemia) and banned in sport.

Also known as: Long R3 IGF-1, LongR3 IGF-I, Long R3 IGF-I

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Prescription

Cerebrolysin

Cognition & Neuro

Peptide mixture derived from porcine brain with neurotrophic marketing claims – evidence inconsistent according to Cochrane.

Also known as: FPF-1070, FPF 1070, Cerebrolysinum

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Not approved

Thymalin

Longevity & Immune System

A peptide fraction derived from the thymus gland, studied primarily by Russian research groups (Khavinson) as an immunomodulator and "geroprotector" – with only limited independent confirmation.

Also known as: Thymalin, Thymus-Peptidfraktion, Thymus-Peptidpräparat

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Not approved

GDF-11

Longevity & Immune System

A controversially debated growth factor from anti-aging research – made famous by "young blood" studies whose findings were later scientifically contested. Not an approved agent.

Also known as: Growth Differentiation Factor 11, GDF11, BMP-11

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Prescription

Oxytocin

Endocrine & reproduction

Nine-residue posterior-pituitary hormone: an approved obstetric medicine — separately marketed as an intranasal "cuddle hormone" (mixed evidence).

Also known as: Oxt, OXT, Syntocinon

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Prescription

Gonadorelin

Endocrine & reproduction

Synthetic GnRH/LHRH – the hypothalamic releasing hormone that prompts the pituitary to secrete LH and FSH.

Also known as: GnRH, LHRH, Gonadotropin-Releasing-Hormon

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Guides

Background and context on longevity, compounds and peptides — independently researched and backed by primary sources. We explain and contextualize; we do not give dosing or usage recommendations.

All guide articles

“For Research Use Only” is not safety.

That label bypasses medicines regulation — it makes a substance neither tested nor safe. Read what the gray market really means and what the legitimate clinical route looks like.