Peptide Evidence Explorer

Not a licensed UK medicine. Promising preclinical data (mostly animal studies) but robust human evidence is lacking. Marketed online as 'research only'. Treated by WADA as prohibited under the S0 non-approved substances category.

Not a licensed UK medicine. The active fragment of Thymosin Beta-4, studied largely in preclinical animal models. Treated by WADA as prohibited; sold by some online retailers as 'research only'.

Naturally occurring tripeptide-copper complex. Topical cosmetic formulations are regulated under UK cosmetics legislation; injectable forms are research-only and unlicensed. Genuine cosmetic evidence exists for topical skin and hair endpoints; injectable claims should be assessed separately.

Cosmetic peptide regulated under UK cosmetics legislation. Substantial clinical evidence for topical anti-wrinkle / collagen-stimulating effects. Widely used in over-the-counter skincare for 20+ years. Not a medicine, not injected, no sport-doping concern.

Cosmetic peptide regulated under UK cosmetics legislation. Marketed as 'Botox in a bottle'; mechanism is real (SNAP-25 modulation) but topical penetration limits effect size. Not a medicine, not injected.

Cosmetic peptide regulated under UK cosmetics legislation. An eight-amino-acid extension of Argireline marketed as a more potent SNAP-25-targeting topical anti-wrinkle agent. Topical only; not a medicine.

Cosmetic peptide regulated under UK cosmetics legislation. Enkephalin-pathway peptide marketed as an Argireline enhancer for expression lines. Effect size on its own is small.

Cosmetic peptide (snake-venom-mimetic) regulated under UK cosmetics legislation. Topical only. Marketing leans on the venom-mimetic story; effect size is modest.

Not a licensed UK medicine. The full-length parent protein of TB-500; investigated in some early human cardiac and wound-healing trials. Treated by WADA as prohibited under the growth-factors category.

Not a licensed UK medicine. A modified fragment of growth hormone marketed for fat loss. Earlier obesity development did not produce a licensed product; human evidence for normal adults is limited. Captured by WADA prohibited classes for growth-related peptides.

Licensed UK medicine (Ozempic for type 2 diabetes; Wegovy for chronic weight management). Prescription-only. Lawful access is through a registered UK prescriber and a regulated pharmacy. Counterfeit pens are a major UK safety issue.

Licensed UK medicine (Saxenda for weight management; Victoza for type 2 diabetes). Prescription-only. Daily injection; pre-dates and is generally less potent than semaglutide and tirzepatide. Lawful supply requires a UK prescriber and a regulated pharmacy.

Not a licensed UK medicine and not a peptide (it's a small-molecule triple monoamine reuptake inhibitor). Investigational obesity drug; development was complicated by cardiovascular safety signals. Not currently available through regulated UK channels.

Not a licensed UK medicine. C-terminal fragment of growth hormone marketed for selective fat loss. Conceptually distinct from full HGH but still captured by WADA growth-factor rules. Human evidence is weak.

Endogenous gut hormone — not a medicine per se, but the basis of UK-licensed GLP-1 receptor agonists (semaglutide, liraglutide, tirzepatide). Native GLP-1 is too short-acting to be useful as a drug; this page is educational background.

Not a licensed UK medicine. A short tetrapeptide investigated almost exclusively in Russian studies for telomerase-related anti-ageing endpoints. Findings have not been broadly replicated by independent groups; human evidence is limited.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Mitochondrial-derived peptide studied largely in preclinical animal and cell models. Sold by some online retailers as 'research only'. Likely captured by WADA's S0 non-approved substances category.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Russian-developed nootropic / anxiolytic peptide; some human trial data exists but most published in Russian-language journals with limited independent replication.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Russian-developed nootropic peptide derived from ACTH; used in Russia for some neurological indications. Most published evidence is from Russian groups with limited independent replication.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Endogenous peptide investigated for sleep, pain, and stress-protection in older Russian / Eastern European studies; modern human evidence is sparse.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Highly potent in animal cognition models (claimed to be orders of magnitude more potent than BDNF), but zero human safety data. HGF / c-Met pathway it acts on has documented cancer-promotion concerns.

Not a licensed UK medicine. GHRH analogue commonly marketed by private clinics for 'anti-ageing' or body-composition use. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2 (peptide hormones / growth factors). Robust human RCTs for the marketed wellness outcomes are limited.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Selective growth-hormone secretagogue commonly paired with CJC-1295 by private clinics. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2. Human-outcomes evidence for the marketed wellness uses is limited.

Not currently licensed in the UK; the historical FDA-approved version (Geref) was withdrawn. GHRH analogue similar to CJC-1295 but shorter-acting. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Growth-hormone-releasing peptide. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2. Sometimes used in clinical research diagnostically (GH-stimulation testing), not as a therapy.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Growth-hormone-releasing peptide with additional appetite-stimulating effect (it activates the ghrelin receptor). Prohibited at all times under WADA S2.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Potent GHRP with research interest in cardioprotection. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2. Sometimes cited for tachyphylaxis (reduced effect with chronic use) more than other GHRPs.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Licensed in 35+ other countries (Zadaxin) for chronic hepatitis B/C and as an immune adjuvant. UK readers should not conflate 'approved elsewhere' with 'available on the NHS'. Sport status is uncertain — confirm before competition.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Endogenous antimicrobial peptide investigated for chronic infections, wound healing, and inflammation. Substantial preclinical literature; human therapeutic use is essentially absent.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Treated by the MHRA as a prescription-only medicine on the basis of its pharmacological effects. UK sale for human use is unlawful; the MHRA has actively warned the public against using it.

Bremelanotide is FDA-approved as Vyleesi for HSDD in premenopausal women in the US, but is not licensed in the UK. Cardiovascular effects (blood-pressure rise) are documented. Sport status uncertain; confirm before competition.

FDA-approved in the US (Egrifta) for HIV-associated lipodystrophy with reasonable human evidence base for that specific indication. Not currently a UK-licensed medicine. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2 for athletes.

Not a licensed UK medicine. A potent IGF-1 analogue with extended half-life and reduced binding-protein affinity. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2 (IGF-1 and analogues). Theoretical cancer-promotion concerns are not fully resolved.

Not a licensed UK medicine. A PEGylated form of mechano growth factor (an IGF-1 splice variant). Prohibited at all times under WADA S2. Human evidence in the marketed muscle-recovery context is essentially absent.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Reproductive-endocrinology peptide investigated for hypothalamic amenorrhoea, IVF triggers, and diagnostic use. Genuine clinical-research interest with promising trial data; not a wellness product.

Licensed UK medicine (Syntocinon, Pitocin) for obstetric indications — labour induction, postpartum bleeding control, milk-ejection stimulation. Hospital / specialist use only; not appropriate for self-administration or social-effect experimentation.

Endogenous hormone. Synthetic analogues (vasopressin itself for vasopressor / GI bleeding use; desmopressin for diabetes insipidus and nocturnal enuresis) are UK prescription-only medicines. Prohibited under WADA S5 (diuretics / masking agents).

Endogenous neurotrophin essential for brain plasticity. Not a medicine; the molecule is too large and unstable to be useful as a therapeutic. This entry is educational background.

UK prescription-only medicine. Synacthen (synthetic ACTH analogue) is used by NHS endocrinology for adrenal-function testing. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Myostatin inhibitor with research interest in muscular dystrophy and other muscle-wasting conditions. Prohibited at all times under WADA S1.2 (other anabolic agents). Some commercial preparations are gene-therapy constructs, not peptides — verify what's actually being sold.

Endogenous vasoactive peptide. The analogue aviptadil has been investigated for pulmonary indications (including COVID-19 acute respiratory distress) but is not currently a routinely used UK medicine.

Endogenous melanocortin peptide. Afamelanotide (Scenesse), a stable α-MSH analogue, is licensed in some jurisdictions for erythropoietic protoporphyria; native α-MSH is not a UK medicine for cosmetic or anti-inflammatory use.

Endogenous opioid peptide. Not a medicine (too short half-life and too central a target). Released in exercise, stress, and pain modulation — this entry is educational background.

Endogenous hypothalamic hormone. Synthetic TRH (protirelin) is used clinically for thyroid-axis testing; not appropriate for wellness self-administration.

Discontinued investigational compound. Acceleron Pharma stopped development of ACE-031 in 2013 after safety signals. Not a licensed UK medicine; not currently in active clinical development. Prohibited under WADA S1.2 / S4.

Endogenous gut hormone — not a medicine but the basis for ghrelin-receptor agonist drug development. This entry is educational background; therapeutic exposure happens through other compounds (GHRPs etc).

Endogenous pancreatic peptide. Pramlintide (Symlin) is licensed in the US for type 1 / type 2 diabetes; not currently licensed in the UK. Cagrilintide (an analogue) is in late-stage clinical development with Novo Nordisk for obesity.

UK prescription-only medicine (Miacalcic). Long-term osteoporosis use was restricted in 2013 following EMA review of cancer-risk signals; short-term use for hypercalcaemia and Paget's disease remains appropriate.

UK prescription-only medicine (Forsteo / teriparatide). First-line anabolic osteoporosis therapy for severe disease or where anti-resorptive therapy has failed. Time-limited course (typically 2 years).

UK prescription-only medicine for chronic-kidney-disease anaemia and certain chemotherapy-induced anaemia. Famously misused for blood doping; prohibited under WADA S2. Several documented deaths linked to athlete abuse.

Endogenous satiety hormone. The recombinant analogue metreleptin (Myalept) is licensed in some jurisdictions for rare leptin-deficiency states; common obesity is leptin-resistant, so adding leptin generally does not help.

Licensed UK medicine (Mounjaro). Dual GLP-1 / GIP receptor agonist. Prescription-only. NHS access depends on NICE guidance and local commissioning. Counterfeit pens and unregulated 'research only' vials are a UK safety concern.

Investigational compound. Not yet a licensed UK medicine. Phase 2 human data are promising for weight loss but Phase 3 results and regulatory review are still required. Any 'retatrutide' offered for sale outside a registered clinical trial is grey-market.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Tripeptide fragment of alpha-MSH with anti-inflammatory activity in animal IBD / colitis models. No human therapeutic use; UK IBD pathways do not include KPV.

Not a licensed UK medicine. A multi-peptide preparation from porcine brain tissue, licensed in several European and Asian countries for stroke recovery, dementia, and TBI. Substantial regional clinical literature, much from Russian / Chinese groups; not on UK NHS pathways.

Cosmetic peptide (lipopeptide form of GHK) regulated under UK cosmetics legislation. Component of the Matrixyl 3000 complex. Topical only.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Mitochondrial-derived peptide investigated for neuroprotection and longevity. All studies are preclinical or small observational; no human therapeutic use.

Not a licensed UK medicine. Mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide (elamipretide / Bendavia) with several human clinical trials in mitochondrial disease and heart failure; not currently licensed for any indication in the UK.

UK prescription-only medicine. GnRH analogues (gonadorelin, leuprolide, goserelin) are licensed for prostate cancer, endometriosis, IVF protocols, and other endocrine indications. Prohibited under WADA in men (S4 hormone modulators).

Endogenous family of antimicrobial peptides. Synthetic defensin analogues are in early development; not currently a licensed UK medicine for any indication.

Endogenous neuropeptide involved in pain and neurogenic inflammation. Not a medicine; NK1-receptor antagonists (e.g. aprepitant) are licensed UK antiemetics that work against Substance P signalling.

Oral food supplement (not a medicine). Regulated as a food / cosmetic-ingredient supplement in the UK. Growing human evidence for modest effects on skin elasticity, hydration, and joint comfort; effect sizes vary by formulation and dose.

UK prescription-only medicine (Elmiron) for interstitial cystitis. Veterinary equivalent (Cartrophen) is used for canine osteoarthritis. Elmiron carries an updated FDA / EMA warning regarding pigmentary maculopathy with long-term use.

Not a peptide — a coenzyme. NMN and NR oral precursors are sold as supplements. NAD+ IV drip clinics are popular in the UK; clinical evidence for the marketed wellness outcomes is modest, and pricing is high (£200-500+ per drip).

Not a licensed UK medicine and not technically a peptide — MK-677 is an orally active non-peptide ghrelin-receptor agonist / GH secretagogue. Substantial human pharmacology data exists; development stalled in elderly/hip-fracture indications. Prohibited under WADA S2.

Investigational dual GLP-1 / glucagon receptor agonist (Boehringer Ingelheim). Phase 3 trials ongoing for obesity and MASH. Not currently a UK-licensed medicine; access is via clinical trial only.

Investigational long-acting amylin analogue from Novo Nordisk. Phase 3 evaluation as CagriSema (with semaglutide). Not currently a UK-licensed medicine; access is via clinical trial participation only.

Not a licensed UK medicine. The long-acting (1-2 week half-life) variant of CJC-1295, with original pharmaceutical development discontinued. Prohibited at all times under WADA S2.

Investigational peptide derived from EPO (innate-repair-receptor agonist; lacks EPO's erythropoietic activity). Studied for small-fibre neuropathy and sarcoidosis-related pain; not currently a licensed UK medicine.

Endogenous neuropeptide. Research on PACAP is informing migraine drug development (anti-PACAP antibodies are in late-stage trials). Native PACAP is not a UK medicine.

Not a licensed UK medicine. A multi-peptide thymic extract developed by the Russian Khavinson group; used clinically in Russia since the late 1970s. Independent Western replication is limited; UK access is research-only.