Skin

GHK-Cu

A compounded copper peptide for use on the skin

Compounded · topical only · not FDA-approved · by prescription

Compounded by a licensed pharmacy as a topical preparation. Not FDA-approved; FDA has not reviewed compounded medications for safety, effectiveness or quality.

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Important safety information. Compounded GHK-Cu is for topical use only; it is not FDA-approved, FDA has not reviewed it for safety, effectiveness or quality, and it may cause mild skin irritation. See safety

Stylised model of the real sequence

Overview.

GHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved drug, and its human evidence comes mainly from small trials of facial cosmetic products, which recent reviews describe as sparse. It is the copper(II) complex of a naturally occurring human tripeptide (GHK) first isolated from plasma and has long been used in cosmetic creams and serums. Only non-injectable GHK-Cu, such as topical forms, may be compounded under FDA's interim policy. FDA has not cleared injectable GHK-Cu for compounding, and evidence for injectable use is limited to lab studies and very early, unregistered human reports.

Also known as Copper tripeptide-1 · GHK-copper · Copper peptide

The molecule, decoded.

Sequence: GHK (tripeptide) + Cu2+
Length: 3 residues
Molecular weight: 401.9 g/mol
Formula: C14H22CuN6O4 (neutral form; other protonation states exist)
CAS number: 89030-95-5 (prezatide copper)
Half-life: Not established
Routes studied: topical (creams and serums; small human trials; one Phase 2 gel trial recruiting), microneedle-assisted transdermal (preclinical/porcine ex vivo), subcutaneous/injectable (unregistered, anecdotal human use only; not offered)
Modifications: 1:1 chelation of Cu(II) by the tripeptide's terminal amine, imidazole (His), and deprotonated backbone amide nitrogens; copper-free GHK itself is CAS 49557-75-7, PubChem CID 73587, MW 340.4

How it works.

GHK is released as a matrikine when collagen Iα2 and SPARC break down. In lab studies it acts as a copper-delivery/signaling peptide: it is a cofactor for lysyl oxidase (collagen/elastin cross-linking), modulates matrix metalloproteinase and TIMP expression, stimulates glycosaminoglycan and collagen synthesis, reduces TGF-β-driven fibrosis, has antioxidant (ferritin-iron-modulated) activity, and broadly shifts gene expression toward a tissue-repair/anti-inflammatory program.

Evidence · Compounded · not FDA-approved · limited adult human data

What the research shows

systematic evidence map2026

A 2026 systematic evidence-mapping review concluded that human clinical evidence for GHK-Cu is sparse and does not meet contemporary quality standards for an active pharmaceutical entity, although preclinical data consistently support effects on matrix remodeling, epithelial repair, inflammation/redox regulation and angiogenesis; of two small human studies, one after CO2 laser treatment was negative on objective endpoints and a split-face eyebrow study reported positive cosmetic outcomes.

review spanning preclinical and small human cosmetic studies

Source

systematic review2026

A PRISMA-mapped review of 64 records (2005-2026) found the GHK-Cu clinical literature is thin and fragmented, dominated by small randomized trials of facial cosmetic creams, and that microneedle-enhanced delivery has yet to be tested in a registered, adequately powered human RCT.

64 records: in vitro, ex vivo, animal, and human studies

Source

systematic review2026

A systematic review of GHK-Cu in aesthetic medicine included 20 studies, only 2 of them human RCTs; the 18 preclinical studies consistently showed increased type I collagen/glycosaminoglycan synthesis and angiogenesis, and the two RCTs reported improved patient satisfaction and reduced wrinkle depth after laser resurfacing.

2 human RCTs plus 18 preclinical studies (aesthetic/cosmetic indications)

Source

phase 2 RCT, recruiting2026

A Phase 2 randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, split-wound trial of a topical 0.1% GHK-Cu gel (about 0.5 g once daily for 14 days) on standardized punch-biopsy wounds began recruiting in February 2026; no results are available (primary completion estimated February 2027).

60 healthy adults with standardized punch-biopsy wounds (planned; recruiting)

Source

What to know first.

Based on: small trials of topical cosmetic products; lab and animal studies only for injectable use.

Reported side effects

Topical use: mild irritation possible
Injectable/systemic use: toxicity and labile-copper exposure not well characterized; one review flagged that formulation-dependent copper speciation (intact GHK-Cu vs. free copper) is often not resolved in delivery studies

Cautions

Reviews caution that 'GHK-Cu' as commonly marketed conflates several distinct chemical/coordination states (apo-GHK, canonical GHK-Cu, other copper-peptide systems) with different safety profiles
Injectable GHK-Cu is not FDA-approved and FDA has not cleared it for compounding; injectable research-grade product is unregulated

Checked 2026-09

Where it stands.

Compounded, by prescription.

When consultations open, a licensed clinician in your state will review your health history and prescribe GHK-Cu only if it’s appropriate for you. A licensed U.S. pharmacy will dispense it.

Compounded medications are prepared by a licensed pharmacy for an individual patient. They are not FDA-approved, and FDA has not reviewed them for safety, effectiveness or quality. RiptideRx offers topical GHK-Cu only. Injectable GHK-Cu is not available: FDA has not cleared it for compounding. Not available in Alabama or Mississippi.

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FDA: Not an approved drug. Topical GHK-Cu is sold as a cosmetic ingredient; FDA does not pre-approve cosmetics. Injectable/systemic GHK-Cu has no approved product. GHK-Cu was not on the July 2026 PCAC agenda (BPC-157, KPV, TB-500, MOTS-c, emideltide, epitalon, semax), but FDA has announced a PCAC meeting before the end of February 2027 that will consider GHK-Cu, together with LL-37, dihexa acetate, melanotan II and PEG-MGF.
Compounding: Split status. 'GHK-Cu (except for injectable routes of administration)' is in 503A Category 1 (FDA categories list updated 14 May 2026): FDA removed it on 22 Apr 2026 after both nominators (Wells Pharmacy Network and LDT Health Solutions) withdrew on 14 Apr 2026, then restored it after one nominator clarified on 5 May 2026 that it had meant to withdraw only the injectable route. Compounders may therefore use it for non-injectable (e.g., topical) compounded drugs under FDA's interim policy. 'GHK-Cu (for injectable routes of administration)' was previously in Category 2 and now sits on the 'nominated but withdrawn' list of FDA's Category 2 page (updated 22 Apr 2026), citing immunogenicity and aggregation risk and limited human data. FDA has announced a PCAC meeting before the end of February 2027 to consider GHK-Cu for the 503A Bulks List. Not on 21 CFR 216.23.
Sport (WADA): Not named in the WADA 2026 Prohibited List. Topical/cosmetic use is clearly outside anti-doping scope; injectable/systemic research use is not specifically addressed by WADA.
Enforcement: FDA warning letter to Tailor Made Compounding LLC, dated 2020-04-01, names GHK-Cu among bulk substances compounded without qualifying for a Section 503A exemption.

References (7)

GHK-Cu

Overview.

The molecule, decoded.

How it works.

What the research shows

What to know first.

Reported side effects

Cautions

Where it stands.

Compounded, by prescription.

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