All peptides, graded by evidence.

Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved drug (Egrifta, 2010): Grade A, the strongest evidence tier here.

PT-141 (bremelanotide) is an FDA-approved drug, Vyleesi (2019), for HSDD in premenopausal women, so its evidence is Grade A.

Grade A, and the reference standard for medical weight loss.

Grade A, and on raw efficacy it is the strongest weight-loss drug approved to date, beating semaglutide head to head.

Grade A on the science, but in 2026 it is largely a legacy option: the daily injection and smaller weight effect make semaglutide or tirzepatide the usual first choice unless there is a specific reason to prefer it.

Grade A as a diabetes and cardiovascular drug, but the honest caveat is that it is not FDA-approved for obesity and produces less weight loss than semaglutide or tirzepatide.

Legitimate, best-in-class evidence for one narrow job: photoprotection in erythropoietic protoporphyria, where it is FDA-approved.

A real, formerly FDA-approved hormone with clean pharmacology and a sensible modern role: keeping the testicular axis alive during TRT via a compounding-pharmacy prescription.

A genuine FDA-approved hormone, but the approval is for labor and postpartum bleeding, not for bonding, trust, or libido.

Sermorelin is legally compoundable (503A) thanks to its prior FDA approval as Geref.

Retatrutide is investigational (Phase 3), not FDA-approved, and not legally available.

GHK-Cu (copper peptides) is legal as a topical cosmetic, and for skin its human evidence is Grade B: real topical/cosmetic data, no drug approval.

Grade B and genuinely promising, but the key fact is that it is not FDA-approved as a standalone drug.

The strongest immune peptide in this group on human evidence.

Two different stories share one molecule.

Semax is not FDA-approved (it is approved in Russia) and remains under FDA review.

CJC-1295/Ipamorelin is not FDA-approved and is not legally compoundable (CJC-1295 withdrawn April 2026).

CJC-1295 (mono GHRH analog, usually "with DAC") is not FDA-approved and not legally compoundable; its nomination was withdrawn in April 2026.

Selank is not FDA-approved (it is approved in Russia) and there is no legal compounding route today; it was removed from 503A Category 2 but is not on the July 2026 PCAC docket.

The most selective GHRP on paper and the best-tolerated in a real human trial, but that trial failed and there is no human evidence it does the muscle or fat-loss job it is sold for.

The most-studied and only orally-active option in this group, with genuine 2-year human RCT data behind it, which is why it grades C and not D.

An interesting molecule with an honest evidence problem.

The most scientifically elegant peptide in this group: an EPO fragment engineered to keep the tissue-repair upside and drop the blood-clotting downside, with small human trials actually showing small nerve fibers regrowing.

A natural peptide that got a very public shot at the big time and largely missed.

Cerebrolysin is the most legitimately studied peptide in this batch and is a genuinely approved drug in several countries, which sets it apart from the research-chemical crowd.

One of the more scientifically interesting research peptides here, with legitimate JAMA-published RCTs showing it can activate sexual-brain circuits in people with low desire.

The most legitimate science on this list, and still not a green light.

Fine to use, just keep expectations honest.

The one cosmetic peptide here worth a spot in a routine.

BPC-157 is not FDA-approved and is not yet legal to compound.

TB-500 is not FDA-approved and is not yet legal to compound.

KPV is not FDA-approved and is not yet legal to compound.

MOTS-c is not FDA-approved and is not yet legal to compound.

Epitalon is not FDA-approved and remains under FDA review.

Melanotan-2 (MT-2) is an unapproved "tanning" peptide with documented serious harms: melanoma and mole changes, priapism, nausea, blood-pressure changes and rhabdomyolysis have all been reported.

IGF-1 LR3 is not FDA-approved and not legally compoundable; it's research-only.

The granddaddy of GH peptides and a reliable appetite-and-GH trigger in the lab, but it is non-selective (cortisol and prolactin come along), the human data is decades-old pharmacology with no efficacy outcome, and it is not legal to compound.

The strongest GH-pulse trigger of the old GHRPs and a genuine diagnostic drug in Japan, which is more legitimacy than most peptides here can claim.

The most scientifically interesting GHRP thanks to a real, human, GH-independent cardiac effect, but 'interesting mechanism' is not 'proven benefit.' No trial shows it builds muscle, its GH effect fades with repeat dosing, and it is research-only.

DSIP is the only one of the seven peptides the FDA panel reviewed in July 2026 that it declined to recommend, voting 6 to 7 (1 abstention) against adding it to the 503A list on July 24.

Dihexa has one of the flashiest preclinical stories in the nootropic peptide world (orders of magnitude more potent than BDNF in a dish) and almost nothing solid to stand on.

Humanin is one of the more scientifically interesting peptides here: a genuine mitochondrial-derived signaling molecule with a strong, consistent neuroprotective story in cells and animals, plus suggestive human biomarker data linking low levels to Alzheimer's.

A compelling target with a misleading reputation.

Skip it.

Skip it.

AOD-9604 is the cautionary tale of the fat-loss peptide world.