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Research

Every claim on a peptide page is tagged with an evidence grade and linked to a source. Below is how we grade the evidence, the outside studies behind the entries, and our own articles that dig into the research.

Evidence grades

Our research

Plain language articles we write on new studies, regulation, and safety.

Regulatory

Retatrutide in 2026: new phase 3 data and a closing access window

The strongest weight loss numbers yet landed this year, at the same time a court fight over what retatrutide legally is threatens to end research and compounded access. Here is what the evidence shows and what is actually changing.

Regulatory

Where peptide compounding rules stand after the 2026 FDA votes

The FDA spent 2026 deciding which bulk peptides pharmacies may compound. Here is what changed, what the July advisory votes did, and why the rules still leave most research peptides unapproved.

Safety

A vial is only as trustworthy as its Certificate of Analysis

Research material is unregulated, so the label is a claim, not a guarantee. A recent third party Certificate of Analysis is the closest thing to proof you can get before you trust a vial.

External research (53)

The outside studies, trials, and records cited across the site.

  1. U.S. Food & Drug Administration (2026). Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee, 503A bulk drug substances review (includes BPC-157).

    Regulatoryview source

  2. Eli Lilly and Company (2026). Lilly's triple agonist, retatrutide, delivered powerful weight loss in pivotal Phase 3 obesity trial (TRIUMPH-1 topline results, announced 21 May 2026).

    Manufacturerview source

  3. ClinicalTrials.gov (2026). The Effect of Retatrutide Once Weekly on Cardiovascular Outcomes and Kidney Outcomes in Adults Living With Obesity (TRIUMPH-Outcomes), NCT06383390. Estimated completion February 2029..

    Regulatoryview source

  4. ClinicalTrials.gov (2026). TB-500 (Thymosin Beta 4 17-23 Fragment) trial registration.

    Otherview source

  5. Banned Substances Control Group (2026). TB-500: status, risks, and bans in sport.

    Regulatoryview source

  6. Eli Lilly and Company (2026). Lilly's triple agonist, retatrutide, delivered powerful weight loss in pivotal Phase 3 obesity trial (TRIUMPH-1 topline, 21 May 2026).

    Manufacturerview source

  7. American Journal of Managed Care (2026). Retatrutide Achieves Up to 30.3% Average Weight Loss in Phase 3 TRIUMPH-1 Trial (full data presented at the 2026 ADA Scientific Sessions).

    Randomized trialview source

  8. BioSpace (2026). Lilly, FDA retatrutide biologic dispute comes to a head as submission nears.

    Otherview source

  9. U.S. FDA (2026). July 23 to 24, 2026: Meeting of the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee.

    Regulatoryview source

  10. Partnership for Safe Medicines (2026). FDA peptide panel narrowly votes to add unapproved drugs to compounding list (27 July 2026).

    Otherview source

  11. ClinicalTrials.gov (2026). The Effect of Retatrutide Once Weekly on Cardiovascular and Kidney Outcomes in Adults Living With Obesity (TRIUMPH-Outcomes), NCT06383390, estimated completion February 2029.

    Regulatoryview source

  12. Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) (2026). FDA considers adding a dozen peptides to its bulk drug compounding list.

    Regulatoryview source

  13. Pharmaceuticals (MDPI) (2025). Multifunctionality and Possible Medical Application of the BPC 157 Peptide, Literature and Patent Review.

    Reviewview source

  14. Examine.com (2025). BPC-157 benefits, dosage, and side effects (evidence overview).

    Reviewview source

  15. PMC (in vitro and preclinical study) (2025). Epitalon increases telomere length in human cell lines through telomerase upregulation.

    Lab / in vitroview source

  16. PMC (preclinical study) (2025). MOTS-c restores mitochondrial respiration in the type 2 diabetic heart.

    Animal studyview source

  17. Compounding pharmacy clinical guidance (2025). NAD+ injection clinical overview: dosing, routes, and safety.

    Other

  18. PMC (peer reviewed meta analysis) (2025). Efficacy and safety of retatrutide for obesity: a systematic review and meta analysis of randomized controlled trials.

    Reviewview source

  19. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism (2025). Tirzepatide for obesity: weight reduction and tolerability across the SURMOUNT trials.

    Randomized trialview source

  20. Patient Care Online (2025). Retatrutide Achieves Up to 28.7% Weight Loss and Marked Knee Pain Reduction in Phase 3 TRIUMPH-4 Trial.

    Randomized trialview source

  21. Goodwin (Life Sciences alert) (2025). District Court Sets Aside FDA's Interpretation of "Analogous" to a Protein for Purposes of the "Biological Product" Category (S.D. Indiana, 30 September 2025).

    Regulatoryview source

  22. British Journal of Dermatology (2024). User experiences of Melanotan II injection for tanning.

    Reviewview source

  23. Drugs.ie (harm reduction guidance) (2024). Advice on the use of injecting tanning agents such as Melanotan.

    Otherview source

  24. Clinical review (2024). PT-141 (bremelanotide) for sexual dysfunction: clinical overview.

    Review

  25. Nature Medicine (2024). Triple hormone receptor agonist retatrutide for metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease: a randomized phase 2a trial.

    Randomized trialview source

  26. Nature Medicine (2024). Long-term weight loss effects of semaglutide in obesity without diabetes in the SELECT trial.

    Randomized trialview source

  27. U.S. FDA / Drugs.com (2024). Semaglutide prescribing information and drug overview.

    Regulatoryview source

  28. U.S. FDA / Drugs.com (2024). Sermorelin (Geref): approved use for growth hormone deficiency and drug overview.

    Regulatoryview source

  29. U.S. FDA / Drugs.com (2024). Tesamorelin (Egrifta) prescribing information and drug overview.

    Regulatoryview source

  30. U.S. FDA / Drugs.com (2024). Tirzepatide prescribing information and drug overview.

    Regulatoryview source

  31. PMC (systematic review) (2023). Cerebrolysin in patients with traumatic brain injury: systematic review and meta-analysis.

    Reviewview source

  32. Peptide research review (2023). KPV and the anti-inflammatory activity of the alpha-MSH C-terminus (review).

    Review

  33. New England Journal of Medicine (2023). Triple Hormone Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity, a Phase 2 Trial.

    Randomized trialview source

  34. Peptide research review (2023). Selank: anxiolytic and nootropic actions and Russian clinical use (review).

    Review

  35. Peptide research review (2023). Semax: neuroprotective and nootropic actions and Russian clinical use (review).

    Review

  36. Frontiers in Pharmacology (2022). Pharmacokinetics, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of body protective compound 157, a potential drug for treating various wounds, in rats and dogs.

    Animal studyview source

  37. Longevity research review (2022). Epithalon (AEDG) peptide, pineal function, and aging (Khavinson research review).

    Review

  38. The Lancet (2022). LY3437943, a novel triple GIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptor agonist in people with type 2 diabetes: a phase 1b multiple ascending dose trial.

    Randomized trialview source

  39. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology (2021). NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during aging.

    Review

  40. New England Journal of Medicine (2021). Once-weekly semaglutide for obesity (STEP program).

    Randomized trial

  41. The Lancet / New England Journal of Medicine (2021). Tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes (SURPASS program).

    Randomized trial

  42. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2020). Cerebrolysin for acute ischaemic stroke (Cochrane systematic review).

    Reviewview source

  43. JCSM Rapid Communications (2020). Growth hormone secretagogues: history, mechanism of action, and clinical development.

    Reviewview source

  44. PMC (preclinical study) (2019). KPV ameliorates LPS-induced intestinal inflammation and mucosal barrier damage.

    Animal studyview source

  45. U.S. FDA / Obstetrics & Gynecology (2019). Bremelanotide (Vyleesi) approval and the RECONNECT phase 3 trials.

    Randomized trialview source

  46. The Lancet HIV (2019). Tesamorelin and liver fat in people with HIV (randomized trial).

    Randomized trial

  47. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2018). Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data.

    Reviewview source

  48. PMC (peer reviewed review) (2016). MOTS-c: a novel mitochondrial-derived peptide regulating muscle and fat metabolism.

    Reviewview source

  49. New England Journal of Medicine (2016). Semaglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes (SUSTAIN-6).

    Randomized trialview source

  50. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (2012). Thymosin beta 4 and tissue repair (review of preclinical work).

    Review

  51. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2006). Prolonged stimulation of growth hormone and IGF-1 by CJC-1295, a long-acting GHRH analog.

    Randomized trial

  52. European Journal of Endocrinology (1998). Ipamorelin, the first selective growth hormone secretagogue.

    Animal study

  53. Wound healing study (rat model) (1993). GHK-Cu increases collagen synthesis and extracellular matrix accumulation in a rat wound model.

    Animal study

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