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Copper(II) complex of the tripeptide glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine

GHK-Cu — evidence

What has been published, classified by the kind of document it is. This is not a protocol, not a score, and not a recommendation for use.

Evidence overview

4 records in this file

  • REVIEW3
  • REGULATORY1

Research areas. Clinical evidence appraisal; Dermal and cellular research; United States compounding.

Publication span. 2008–2026.

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  • FDA's withdrawn compounding nomination is scoped to injectable routes.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.

Regulatory notes

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  • Listed on FDA's table of bulk substances nominated for compounding and withdrawn by the nominator.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.

Regulatory status describes how a substance is classified. It is not a safety assessment of any particular material.

Studies and documents

  1. REGULATORY2026Regulatory listing

    FDA table of bulk drug substances nominated for compounding — injectable GHK-Cu, nomination withdrawn

    U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationFDA compounding communications

    Objective
    To record that FDA's published compounding entry is scoped to injectable routes.
    Endpoint investigated
    Compounding classification for injectable routes

    Listed on the withdrawn-nominations table, scoped specifically to injectable routes of administration. Published concerns include immunogenicity risk from aggregation and impurities, and limited human data. Cosmetic INCI use of Copper Tripeptide-1 is a different regulatory bucket.

    Limitations. The FDA entry is route-scoped. It is not a review of topical cosmetic literature.

    FDA — Certain bulk drug substances for use in compounding may present significant safety risksReviewed 12 September 2026

  2. REVIEW2026Narrative review

    Injectable peptide therapy: a primer for orthopaedic and sports medicine physicians

    Mayfield CK, Bolia IK, Feingold CL, Lin EH, Liu JN, Hatch GFR, Gamradt SC, Weber AEThe American Journal of Sports Medicine

    Objective
    To assess whether GHK-Cu has clinical data for musculoskeletal conditions.
    Endpoint investigated
    Human musculoskeletal evidence

    Reports that GHK-Cu has preclinical wound-healing and anti-inflammatory literature, and that no clinical data support its use for musculoskeletal conditions.

    Limitations. Orthopaedic lens; does not review topical cosmetic literature in depth.

    DOI 10.1177/03635465251357593Mayfield et al., Am J Sports Med (2026)Reviewed 12 September 2026

  3. REVIEW2018Narrative review

    Regenerative and protective actions of the GHK-Cu peptide in the light of the new gene data

    Pickart L, Margolina AInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences

    Objective
    To summarise gene-expression and tissue-repair literature on GHK and GHK-Cu.
    Endpoint investigated
    Reported cellular and dermal research findings

    Open-access review by the originating GHK laboratory, collecting in-vitro and dermal research. It is the usual map of this literature. Cosmetic use of copper tripeptide-1 is a separate regulatory fact from drug approval.

    Limitations. Narrative review from the originating group. Gene-expression changes in culture are not human clinical outcomes. Injectable drug use is not established; FDA's withdrawn compounding nomination is scoped to injectable routes.

    DOI 10.3390/ijms19071987Pickart and Margolina, Int J Mol Sci (2018)Reviewed 12 September 2026

  4. REVIEW2008Narrative review

    The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling

    Pickart LJournal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition

    Objective
    To review GHK's reported effects on tissue remodeling.
    Endpoint investigated
    Tissue-remodeling literature, largely preclinical and dermal

    Earlier review of GHK in tissue remodeling, again from the originating author. Useful historically; not independent replication.

    Limitations. Single-author review of a literature the author generated much of. Not a controlled human interventional programme for systemic use.

    DOI 10.1163/156856208784909435Pickart, J Biomater Sci Polym Ed (2008)Reviewed 12 September 2026

Last reviewed 3 September 2026 · Compiled by Therapept Editorial · How these records are built