How are these peptides graded?

Each peptide gets a letter grade A–F set by a fixed decision tree based on the strength of its human evidence — FDA approval and human RCTs at the top, animal-only data near the bottom, failed human trials at F. The grade is never influenced by whether we can monetize the peptide.

Which peptide has the strongest evidence?

Tesamorelin is the only Grade-A peptide here — it is FDA-approved (as Egrifta), though only for HIV-associated visceral fat, not general use. Sermorelin (Grade B) is the best-evidenced option with a legal compounding route today.

Why are most peptides Grade D?

Because most research peptides sold online — BPC-157, TB-500, KPV, MOTS-c — have only animal or preclinical data, with no published human efficacy trial. Grade D means the marketing has outrun the human evidence, not that the peptide is proven.

Verified July 2026 · Cited to primary sources

All peptides, graded by evidence.

We grade every peptide A–F by the strength of its human evidence, plus a legal-status and safety flag. Of the 16 tracked here, only 1 is FDA-approved. The table below ranks all 16 — best evidence first — with the honest one-line verdict for each.

Grade A· 2Grade B· 3Grade C· 4Grade D· 7

The full evidence-graded peptide table

Ranked best evidence first (Grade A → F). Every grade, legal status, and verdict is computed from our cited compound records — tap any peptide for the full evidence review and primary sources.

Peptide	Evidence	Legal & safety	Primary use	The honest verdict	Link to review
Tesamorelin	Grade A	FDA-approvedSafety: green	Weight Loss	Tesamorelin is an FDA-approved drug (Egrifta, 2010) — Grade A, the strongest evidence tier here.	See the evidence →
PT-141	Grade A	FDA-approvedSafety: green	—	PT-141 (bremelanotide) is an FDA-approved drug — Vyleesi (2019) — for HSDD in premenopausal women, so its evidence is Grade A.	See the evidence →
Sermorelin	Grade B	Compoundable (503A)Safety: green	Muscle Growth	Sermorelin is legally compoundable (503A) thanks to its prior FDA approval as Geref.	See the evidence →
Retatrutide	Grade B	Research-onlySafety: amber	Weight Loss	Retatrutide is investigational (Phase 3), not FDA-approved, and not legally available.	See the evidence →
GHK-Cu	Grade B	Cosmetic/topicalSafety: green	Skin & Anti-Aging	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.	See the evidence →
Semax	Grade C	Under FDA reviewSafety: amber	Cognition & Focus	Semax is not FDA-approved (it is approved in Russia) and is under FDA review (July 24, 2026 PCAC).	See the evidence →
CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin	Grade C	Research-onlySafety: amber	Muscle Growth	CJC-1295/Ipamorelin is not FDA-approved and is not legally compoundable (CJC-1295 withdrawn April 2026).	See the evidence →
CJC-1295	Grade C	Research-onlySafety: amber	Muscle Growth	CJC-1295 (mono GHRH analog, usually "with DAC") is not FDA-approved and not legally compoundable — its nomination was withdrawn in April 2026.	See the evidence →
Selank	Grade C	Research-onlySafety: green	Cognition & Focus	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.	See the evidence →
BPC-157	Grade D	Under FDA reviewSafety: amber	Recovery & Healing	BPC-157 is not FDA-approved and is under FDA review (July 23, 2026 PCAC).	See the evidence →
TB-500	Grade D	Under FDA reviewSafety: amber	Recovery & Healing	TB-500 is not FDA-approved and is under FDA review (July 23, 2026 PCAC).	See the evidence →
KPV	Grade D	Under FDA reviewSafety: amber	Recovery & Healing	KPV is not FDA-approved and is under FDA review (July 23, 2026 PCAC).	See the evidence →
MOTS-c	Grade D	Under FDA reviewSafety: amber	Weight Loss	MOTS-c is not FDA-approved and is under FDA review (July 23, 2026 PCAC).	See the evidence →
Epitalon	Grade D	Under FDA reviewSafety: amber	Sleep	Epitalon is not FDA-approved and is under FDA review (July 24, 2026 PCAC).	See the evidence →
Melanotan-2 (MT-2)	Grade D	Research-onlySafety: red	—	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.	See the evidence →
IGF-1 LR3	Grade D	Research-onlySafety: amber	Muscle Growth	IGF-1 LR3 is not FDA-approved and not legally compoundable — research-only.	See the evidence →

Want the method behind the letters? Read how we grade peptide evidence — the full A–F rubric and the editorial firewall that keeps affiliate status out of every grade.

Prefer to start from a goal?

Each hub ranks only the peptides marketed for that goal, best evidence first, with the honest bottom line up top.

All peptides, graded by evidence.

The full evidence-graded peptide table

Prefer to start from a goal?

How the peptide grading works

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