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Skin & Cosmetic ResearchCopper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine

GHK-Cu

A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide extensively studied in dermatology and cosmetic research for collagen production and skin barrier repair.

UnapprovedSmall Retrospective / Case SeriesAlso known as: Copper tripeptide-1, Prezatide copper, Copper peptideSkip to Human Evidence ↓
Dermatological & Matrix Remodeling

Copper Coordination & Extracellular Matrix Rebuilding

Human Cosmetic Studies Available

GHK is a human plasma tripeptide with an exceptional binding affinity for copper(II). Natural circulating levels decline by over 60% between age 20 and age 60.

Phase 1: Clearance

MMP Enzyme Activation

Upregulates matrix metalloproteinases to break down old, stiff, cross-linked collagen bundles in aged dermis.

Phase 2: Synthesis

Pro-Collagen I & III

Stimulates dermal fibroblasts to produce fresh, compliant collagen, elastin, and moisture-retaining glycosaminoglycans.

Phase 3: Balance

Anti-Fibrotic Shield

Suppresses TGF-beta driven excessive scarring, promoting smooth regenerative tissue architecture over scar tissue.

Topical formulation: Widely used in cosmetics · Injectable formulation: Unapproved investigational drugDosing file →
1

What is GHK-Cu?

GHK-Cu is a naturally occurring complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine bonded with copper(II). Discovered in human plasma in 1973, its natural concentration declines substantially with age.

2

Why are people interested in it?

Widely recognized in skincare science and cosmetic dermatology for stimulating collagen and elastin synthesis, improving skin firmness, reducing fine lines, and promoting scalp health.

Primary Research Categories

  • Metal-peptide complexes
  • Cosmetic ingredients
3

How does it work in the body?

GHK-Cu delivers bioavailable copper into skin and connective tissue cells, regulating matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and stimulating collagen synthesis.

In Everyday Language: GHK-Cu acts like a remodeling manager for your skin's underlying scaffolding. It carries vital copper ions into cells, telling them to break down old stiff collagen and replace it with fresh, flexible collagen.
Cellular & Receptor Signaling: High-affinity copper(II) chelate that modulates gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs). It stimulates pro-collagen I and III synthesis, promotes proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan production, and suppresses transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) driven fibrotic scarring.

Extracellular Matrix Remodeling

GHK-Cu Dermal Tissue Signaling

Matrix Regulation

Collagen & Elastin

Stimulates gene expression of procollagen type I, tropoelastin, and decorin in dermal fibroblasts.

MMP/TIMP Balance

Upregulates matrix metalloproteinases to break down stiff scar tissue while boosting TIMPs to prevent excessive degradation.

Copper Bioavailability

Safely shuttles essential copper ions into cells to serve as cofactors for lysyl oxidase and superoxide dismutase.

Extracellular Matrix Remodeling

Balances collagen breakdown and synthesis to repair damaged tissue architecture.

Fibroblast Stimulation

Increases production of collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycans.

4

What has actually been demonstrated in humans?

Small Retrospective / Case Series

Numerous small human cosmetic trials have evaluated topical GHK-Cu formulations, demonstrating modest improvements in skin elasticity, density, and wrinkle appearance. Injectable formulations lack robust human clinical trials.

Pharmaceutical Reality vs. Unregulated Research Chemicals

Topical cosmetic products containing GHK-Cu are widely marketed. However, injectable GHK-Cu is an unapproved research drug with unknown systemic safety.

5

What is still uncertain or unknown?

While topical dermatology studies demonstrate cosmetic benefits, systemic/injectable human pharmacokinetic and multi-center clinical trials are absent.

Regulatory Position: Approved as an ingredient in topical cosmetic formulations. Injectable formulations are unapproved drug substances.

Companion Resources & Guides

Dosing Reference→

Topical cosmetic percentages vs unverified injectable reports.

Dosing Reference

Open GHK-Cu Dosing Reference

A naturally occurring copper tripeptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine:copper). Primarily studied in topical dermatological formulations and animal tissue regeneration models.

Therapept separates official product labels, published clinical study interventions, animal research, clinical references, and community-reported ranges — never blended into one number.

Research at a Glance

Open the full evidence file (4 records)

4 records in this file

  • REVIEW3
  • REGULATORY1

Publication span: 2008–2026

What Has Actually Been Studied

  • FDA table of bulk drug substances nominated for compounding — injectable GHK-Cu, nomination withdrawn (FDA compounding communications, 2026) — Regulatory listing.
  • Injectable peptide therapy: a primer for orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians (The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2026) — Narrative review.
  • Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene data (International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018) — Narrative review.
  • The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling (Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition, 2008) — Narrative review.

What is Still Unknown

What we know

  • An extensive dermal and cellular literature exists, much of it reviewed by the originating laboratory (Pickart).
  • PubChem holds non-equivalent representations of the copper complex; formula depends on which record a document uses.
  • FDA's withdrawn compounding nomination is scoped to injectable routes. No US approved drug product exists. Not named on the WADA 2026 list.

Editorial reading of the records below, labelled as Therapept analysis. How records are built

What remains uncertain

  • Human interventional data for injectable or systemic use.
  • Independent musculoskeletal clinical data — 2026 sports-medicine reviews report none.

Combinations and Stacks

  • GHK-Cu in cosmetic combinations

    Copper tripeptide-1 appears in topical formulations alongside matrix-support ingredients (retinoids, niacinamide, other signal peptides).

Preparation and Handling

Lyophilized peptides ship as freeze-dried powders; whatever happens next involves diluents, concentrations and storage conditions that are compound- and product-specific.

Preparation Resource HubWhat “lyophilized” meansConcentration calculator

United States Regulatory Status

No FDA-approved product

  • No approved drug product exists in Drugs@FDA.
  • Listed on FDA's table of bulk substances nominated for compounding and withdrawn by the nominator. FDA's entry is scoped specifically to injectable routes of administration.
  • FDA's published concerns include immunogenicity risk from aggregation and impurities, and limited human data.
  • Not named on the WADA 2026 Prohibited List.
Technical Chemical SpecificationsClick to view CAS, sequence, and molecular formulas
Molecular weight
402.92 g/mol (as prezatide copper)
Sequence length
32 chars
CAS number
89030-95-5 (copper complex) · 49557-75-7 (uncomplexed GHK)
PubChem CID
71587328
Compound class
Copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine. Cosmetic ingredient under the INCI name Copper Tripeptide-1
Sequence
Gly-His-Lys, complexed to Cu(II)
Molecular formula
C14H23CuN6O4+ (prezatide copper, PubChem CID 71587328)
Molecular weight
402.92 g/mol (as prezatide copper)
CAS number
89030-95-5 (copper complex) · 49557-75-7 (uncomplexed GHK)
PubChem CID
71587328