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What are peptides? Every research compound, explained.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids. In the body they act as signalling molecules. This plain-language guide covers 17 research compounds . You will find mechanisms, half-lives and published evidence. Every compound is independently verified by Janoshik and Freedom Diagnostics. For research use only.
In short
Peptides are short chains of amino acids. They use the same building blocks as proteins, only shorter (about 2 to 50 amino acids). In biology they act as signalling molecules . They can tell cells to grow, repair, release hormones or regulate metabolism.
Peptide basics
The questions people ask first
Plain-language answers to common searches. Framed for research context. Not medical advice.
What do peptides do?
Different peptides act on different pathways. Research often groups them by theme:
Each profile below names its mechanism from the literature.
Are peptides safe?
It depends on the specific peptide, the study context and material quality. Some related medicines have large trials. Many research peptides have mainly preclinical data.
New-U material is research-use-only. It is not for human consumption. We make no human dosing claims. Every batch is HPLC-tested to >99% with a Certificate of Analysis.
What does research use only mean?
Research-use-only (RUO) means the compound is sold for laboratory and scientific research. It is not a licensed medicine. It is not marketed for personal or clinical use.
Are peptides legal?
Research peptides such as BPC-157 and Tirzepatide are not scheduled narcotics. Most are also not approved medicines for human use. They sit in a research-chemical category for bona-fide lab work. Local rules vary. Compliance is the buyer's responsibility.
Are peptides steroids?
No. Anabolic steroids are lipid molecules on a cholesterol backbone. Peptides are short amino-acid chains. They usually act as signals rather than replacing a hormone directly. Different chemistry. Different research questions.
Independently verified by Janoshik Analytical & Freedom Diagnostics
How to use this guide
Three steps from curiosity to confidence
Each profile is a descriptive reference drawn from published literature - not a recommendation. Use it to understand what a compound is, how it behaves, and where to verify the evidence.
Compound library
17 research peptide profiles
Filter by research goal. Then open any compound for mechanism, published reference ranges, half-life, form, storage and evidence status. These are descriptive literature references. Not recommendations.
Triple GLP-1/GIP/Glucagon agonist. A triple-agonist incretin research peptide with extensive published body-composition data. Two independent >99% CoAs on file.
Retatrutide is a triple co-agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors simultaneously - a mechanism that drives significantly greater weight reduction than dual or single agonists. Phase 2 clinical data showed mean weight loss of 24% over 48 weeks at the highest dose, making it the most powerful pharmacological fat-loss agent currently known. Research focus includes obesity, metabolic syndrome, and NAFLD.
Research: Phase 2 SURMOUNT-adjacent trials (NCT05224037) demonstrated dose-dependent weight loss of 17–24% at 48 weeks. Superiority over semaglutide and tirzepatide in head-to-head modelling.
GLP-1 receptor agonist. Metabolic-pathway research tool for GLP-1 receptor studies.
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist with a half-life engineered for once-weekly dosing. It acts centrally to reduce appetite and caloric intake, and peripherally to slow gastric emptying and improve insulin secretion. Clinical trials (STEP programme) showed 14–17% mean bodyweight reduction at 2.4 mg/week. It has become the reference standard against which newer GLP-1-class peptides are benchmarked.
Research: STEP 1–4 trials demonstrated consistent 14–17% weight loss. The SELECT cardiovascular outcomes trial (N=17,604) showed 20% reduction in MACE events vs placebo.
Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. Superior weight loss profile to semaglutide in clinical trials.
Tirzepatide is a dual agonist co-activating both GIP and GLP-1 receptors via a single molecule. The additive effect of GIP stimulation - which enhances insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner and may sensitise adipocytes - produces superior weight loss to semaglutide. The SURMOUNT-1 trial reported up to 22.5% mean bodyweight reduction at 15 mg weekly, establishing tirzepatide as the leading dual agonist.
Research: SURMOUNT-1 (N=2,539) showed 15.0–22.5% weight loss vs 2.4% placebo at 72 weeks. SURPASS-2 demonstrated superiority over semaglutide 1 mg across all endpoints.
Accelerated healing for muscle, tendon, ligament and gut. Broad systemic repair compound.
BPC-157 is a 15-amino acid partial sequence of the gastric protein body protection compound (BPC). It has demonstrated remarkable regenerative properties across musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and neurological tissue in preclinical research. Key mechanisms include upregulation of growth factor receptors, promotion of angiogenesis via VEGF, and modulation of the nitric oxide system. Frequently stacked with TB-500 for synergistic repair protocols.
Research: Extensive rat/rodent models show 2–3× faster tendon repair, gastric ulcer resolution, and spinal cord injury recovery. No human trials published; mechanism well-characterised in vitro.
Enhanced tissue healing, cardiovascular repair, anti-inflammatory. Works synergistically with BPC-157.
TB-500 is a synthetic analogue of the naturally occurring thymosin beta-4 (Tβ4) protein, a ubiquitous intracellular actin-sequestering peptide. It promotes cell migration and proliferation, upregulates actin assembly, and has demonstrated significant cardiac and skeletal muscle repair in preclinical studies. TB-500 covers complementary pathways to BPC-157 - particularly cardiovascular repair and systemic anti-inflammatory action - making the two a common stacking pair.
Research: Animal models demonstrate improved cardiac function post-MI, accelerated wound healing, and reduced inflammatory markers. Phase II human trial in dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa completed (NCT01248065).
GHRH analogue with Drug Affinity Complex. Sustained GH pulse amplification, recovery and body composition.
CJC-1295 with DAC (Drug Affinity Complex) is a modified GHRH analogue engineered for extended half-life via covalent albumin binding. Unlike native GHRH (half-life <7 min), CJC-1295 DAC remains active for 6–8 days, maintaining elevated baseline IGF-1 and amplifying pulsatile GH release. Research applications include GH deficiency, body composition, sleep quality, and recovery optimisation. Often paired with Ipamorelin for synergistic GH secretion.
Research: Stepwise dose-ranging human trials showed dose-dependent IGF-1 increases of 2–3× baseline persisting 28 days post-injection. No suppression of endogenous GH pulsatility observed.
Selective growth hormone secretagogue. Clean GH release with no cortisol or prolactin elevation.
Ipamorelin is a selective pentapeptide growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) that mimics ghrelin's action at the GHS-R1a receptor to stimulate pulsatile GH release from pituitary somatotrophs. Its distinguishing feature is high selectivity - unlike GHRP-2 or GHRP-6, Ipamorelin does not meaningfully raise cortisol, prolactin, or ACTH, making it the cleanest GH secretagogue available. Commonly stacked with CJC-1295 DAC.
Research: Multiple human trials confirm selective GH release without adrenal or lactotroph activation. Phase II studies in post-surgical recovery and sarcopenia completed.
Stimulates pituitary GH release naturally. Anti-aging, fat loss, sleep improvement, lean mass preservation.
Sermorelin is the first 29 amino acids of endogenous human GHRH (the active receptor-binding domain). It stimulates pituitary GH release via the GHRH receptor while preserving the hypothalamic–pituitary feedback axis. Because sermorelin works within the natural regulatory system rather than bypassing it, GH levels cannot exceed physiological peaks - a key safety advantage. Research applications span anti-ageing, sarcopenia prevention, fat loss, and sleep quality.
Research: FDA-approved (as Geref) for paediatric GH deficiency. Adult anti-ageing and body composition studies show IGF-1 normalisation and improved sleep architecture.
GHRH analogue clinically proven for visceral fat reduction. Strong GH pulse amplification.
Tesamorelin is a stabilised GHRH analogue (trans-3-hexenoic acid conjugated) with greater potency and a longer half-life than native GHRH. It is the only GHRH-class peptide with FDA approval - specifically for HIV-associated lipodystrophy, where it reduces visceral adipose tissue by ~15–18%. The visceral fat reduction mechanism operates via GH-mediated lipolysis and is independent of body weight change, making tesamorelin uniquely valuable for metabolic and body composition research.
Research: Pivotal FDA trials (LIPO-010A/B, N=816) showed significant visceral fat reduction and IGF-1 normalisation. Cognitive benefits reported in a separate MCI trial (NCT01699867).
Copper peptide. Collagen stimulation, skin regeneration, anti-inflammatory. Widely used in longevity protocols.
GHK-Cu (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex) is a naturally occurring human plasma peptide that declines significantly with age. It binds copper(II) and modulates a remarkably broad set of biological processes: collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, antioxidant enzyme upregulation, anti-inflammatory gene expression, and stem cell activation. Research across dermatology, wound healing, and longevity science positions GHK-Cu as one of the most multifunctional peptides known.
Research: Microarray analysis (Pickart et al.) shows GHK-Cu modulates >4,000 human genes - 50% up, 50% down - many involved in cancer suppression and anti-ageing pathways. Multiple human skin trials confirm collagen density improvement.
Pineal gland tetrapeptide. Telomere lengthening, circadian rhythm regulation, immune function.
Epitalon (Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly) is a synthetic tetrapeptide derived from epithalamin, the active fraction of bovine pineal gland extract developed by Professor Vladimir Khavinson. It is one of the few peptides with published evidence of telomerase activation and measurable telomere lengthening in human somatic cells. Research also documents restored melatonin rhythm, improved immune parameters, and reduced tumour incidence in aged animal models. Typically administered in 10–20 day cycles.
Research: Khavinson (2003) demonstrated telomere elongation in human fetal fibroblasts. Subsequent studies in aged individuals showed improved immune parameters and melatonin restoration. 35+ years of published research.
Insulin-like Growth Factor variant. Muscle and metabolic research endpoints in published models. Extended half-life.
IGF-1 LR3 is a recombinant IGF-1 variant. An arginine substitution at position 3 and a 13-amino acid N-terminal extension extend half-life from about 12 hours to 20–30 hours. IGFBP binding is also reduced. That supports sustained IGF-1 receptor signalling in research models of muscle hypertrophy, recovery and age-related sarcopenia.
Research: Cell culture and animal studies demonstrate potent anabolic and anti-apoptotic effects. Binding protein resistance confers superior pharmacokinetics over native IGF-1 in tissue distribution studies.
Anxiolytic nootropic. Studied as an anxiolytic nootropic research compound with BDNF-pathway literature.
Selank is a heptapeptide anxiolytic (Thr-Lys-Pro-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro) developed at the Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, as a tuftsin analogue. Unlike benzodiazepines, it modulates GABAergic tone without sedation, dependence, or cognitive blunting. Clinical research in Russia (Phase III) documented significant anxiolytic and nootropic effects, BDNF elevation, and improved working memory. It is licensed in Russia as Selank nasal spray. Western research focus includes generalised anxiety, PTSD, and cognitive enhancement.
Research: Russian Phase III trials (N=60+) show significant GAD symptom reduction vs placebo. BDNF serum elevation of 35% documented. Registered medicine in Russia since 2009.
Cognitive enhancer and neuroprotective. BDNF upregulation, focus, mood stability.
Semax is a heptapeptide (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) derived from the ACTH 4–10 sequence, developed by Moscow State University in the 1980s. It is a licensed drug in Russia and Ukraine, used clinically for ischaemic stroke, ADHD, and cognitive decline. Semax potently upregulates BDNF, NGF, and VEGF in the hippocampus and cortex, with documented improvements in attention, working memory, and executive function. It has a rapid onset when administered intranasally and is one of the most studied nootropic peptides.
Research: Licensed for stroke rehabilitation and cognitive disorders in Russia/Ukraine. Multiple double-blind trials document cognitive improvements and stroke outcome improvement. 30+ years of clinical use.
Sleep quality enhancement, GH pulse amplification during slow-wave sleep, stress reduction.
DSIP (Trp-Ala-Gly-Gly-Asp-Ala-Ser-Gly-Glu) is a neuromodulatory nonapeptide. It was first isolated from rabbit cerebral venous blood during natural sleep induction in 1974. It promotes delta-wave (slow-wave) sleep, the deepest restorative stage. It also amplifies nocturnal growth-hormone pulses in published models. Research focus includes sleep architecture and stress-related endocrine signalling.
Research: Original isolation by Monnier & Schoenenberger (1974). Subsequent human studies documented EEG delta-wave enhancement and GH pulse amplification. Over 40 years of published research.
Mitochondria-derived peptide. Metabolic regulation, insulin sensitisation, exercise performance, longevity.
MOTS-c is a 16-amino acid peptide encoded in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. It is one of the first peptides known to be mitochondrially encoded and then active in nuclear signalling. Research explores metabolic regulation, exercise adaptation and cellular stress responses.
Research: Lee et al. (2015, Cell Metabolism) established MOTS-c as the first mitochondria-encoded peptide acting as a systemic metabolic hormone. Exercise-dependent secretion confirmed in human studies (Kim et al., 2022).
Immune modulator. Enhances T-cell function, antiviral defence, reduces systemic inflammation.
Thymosin Alpha-1 is the first 28 amino acids of prothymosin alpha, a naturally occurring thymic peptide hormone. It is an FDA-designated orphan drug and licensed medicine in 35+ countries (as Zadaxin) for hepatitis B/C, cancer immunotherapy adjunct, and immunocompromised states. Tα1 activates dendritic cells and T-helper cells, upregulates MHC class II expression, and promotes balanced Th1 immune responses. It is widely used in integrative oncology and longevity medicine protocols.
Research: Zadaxin Phase III trials (hepatitis B: N=200; hepatitis C: N=108) showed significant virological response improvement. Used as SCV-19 adjunct in Italian ICU protocol (Shi et al., 2022).
At a glance
Peptide comparison table
Every compound, its research category, primary mechanism, typical published dose range and half-life - side by side.
FAQ
Peptides: frequently asked questions
The most common questions, answered in plain language and framed for research context. Not medical advice.
Peptides are short chains of amino acids. They use the same building blocks as proteins, only shorter (about 2–50 amino acids). Many act as signalling molecules in biology. Research often studies compounds such as BPC-157, GHK-Cu, Semaglutide, Tirzepatide and Retatrutide. New-U supplies them as research chemicals only. Not for human consumption. 21+.
Different peptides act on different pathways. Research often groups them by theme:
Each profile above lists the mechanism from published literature.
Safety depends on the specific peptide, the study context and material quality. Some related medicines have large human trials. Many research peptides have mainly preclinical data. New-U material is research-use-only. It is not for human consumption. We make no human safety or dosing claims. Every batch is HPLC-tested to >99% with a Certificate of Analysis.
Research peptides such as BPC-157, GHK-Cu, Retatrutide and Tirzepatide are not scheduled narcotics. Most are also not approved medicines for human use. They sit in a research-chemical category for bona-fide lab work. Local rules vary. Buyers are responsible for compliance. New-U supplies research-use-only compounds. We do not provide therapy, treatment or medical advice.
No. Anabolic steroids are lipid molecules on a cholesterol backbone. They act directly on hormone receptors. Peptides are short amino-acid chains. They usually act as signals rather than replacing a hormone. The chemistry and research questions differ.
"Peptide therapy" is a loose marketing term. In regulated medicine it means an approved peptide medicine for an approved indication. New-U supplies research-use-only compounds with a Certificate of Analysis. We do not operate a clinic. We do not provide therapy, treatment or dosing advice. See our peptide therapy explainer.
Research peptides ship as lyophilised (freeze-dried) powder. In a lab they are usually reconstituted with bacteriostatic or sterile water. Solvent volume sets concentration. Lyophilised powder is generally stored frozen (around -20 °C). After reconstitution, refrigerate at 2–8 °C and use within the window on each profile. This is descriptive lab-handling context, not a usage instruction.
The most-studied metabolic peptides are in the GLP-1 class: Semaglutide, Tirzepatide and Retatrutide. Published trials reported the largest bodyweight changes in that group. Tesamorelin and AOD-9604 are studied for fat-specific mechanisms. Described here for research context only. New-U does not sell them for human weight-loss use.
Muscle and recovery research often focuses on growth-hormone secretagogues (CJC-1295, Ipamorelin, Sermorelin), IGF-1 LR3, and tissue-repair peptides such as BPC-157 and TB-500. Those repair peptides are often studied together in injury models. Each profile summarises mechanism and evidence. Research use only. Not a training or dosing recommendation.
Research use only (RUO) means the material is for laboratory and scientific research. It is not intended, labelled or sold for human or veterinary consumption. Every New-U vial is labelled for laboratory and research use only. Not for human use. 21+. That is why this guide is descriptive, not a set of usage instructions.
Scientific sources & further reading
Primary research databases and reference works underpinning these compound summaries, plus mainstream coverage of the peptide category. For research use only - not medical advice.
Databases & literature
Peptides in the news
Keep reading
Related research guides
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Research peptides at >99% HPLC-verified purity, third-party tested by Janoshik Analytical & Freedom Diagnostics, with Certificates of Analysis published per released batch. Supplied strictly for laboratory research use.
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