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Peptide reference

Independent reference pages for every peptide in the Wolverine research corpus. Evidence levels, regulatory status, mechanism, and key studies.

5-Amino-1MQ

A small-molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme that regulates NAD+ metabolism and adipogenesis. Not a peptide by strict definition. It is a quinolinium salt. In mouse models it reduced fat mass and prevented diet-induced obesity without caloric restriction. Human data: none published. The mechanism is real; the translation is unproven.

AOD-9604

A fragment of the C-terminal region of human growth hormone, designed to replicate the fat-metabolising activity of hGH without the growth-promoting or insulin-sensitising effects. Phase II/III trials for obesity ran in the early 2000s; primary efficacy endpoints weren't met at meaningful effect sizes. PCAC voted against adding it to the compounding list in December 2024.

BPC-157

A 15-amino-acid sequence derived from human gastric juice. In animal models it promotes blood vessel formation (VEGF-mediated angiogenesis) and speeds tendon, muscle, and ligament repair. The human evidence is a few small uncontrolled studies (2 to 16 people), and no controlled injury trial has reported results. 544 published studies sounds like a lot. 543 of them were in rats. The cancer-risk question is live: the same mechanism that drives healing — growing new blood vessels — could, in theory, also feed tumour growth. Nobody has ruled that out.

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CJC-1295

A synthetic GHRH analog that stimulates GH release via the GHRH receptor. The DAC-modified version binds plasma albumin, extending the half-life from minutes to days. A Phase II human trial in healthy adults showed sustained GH and IGF-1 elevation over weeks. What it does in terms of body composition or performance in non-deficient adults — that part hasn't been tested rigorously.

CK2-18

A synthetic peptide targeting casein kinase 2 (CK2), a constitutively active serine/threonine kinase implicated in cell survival and proliferation signalling. The interest is oncological — CK2 is overexpressed in several cancers. Research into CK2 inhibitor peptides as potential cancer therapeutics is early-stage. Human data doesn't exist in a completed trial form.

DSIP

First isolated from rabbit cerebral venous blood during induced slow-wave sleep in the 1970s. Small human trials in the 1980s–90s showed reduced stress markers and some sleep architecture effects. The problem: the mechanism isn't clear, the blood-brain barrier penetration is disputed, and endogenous DSIP levels are difficult to measure. Decades of research have produced more questions than answers.

Epithalon

A synthetic tetrapeptide based on epithalamin, a pineal gland extract researched by the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation since the 1980s. The anti-aging angle: it reportedly activates telomerase and extends telomere length in cell culture. Rodent lifespan studies from that same research group show extended mean lifespan. The telomerase story is interesting. It's also mostly from one lab, in animals, using in vitro measures. Human evidence doesn't yet exist in a rigorous form.

GHK-Cu

A copper-binding tripeptide first isolated from human plasma in the 1970s. At physiological concentrations it modulates wound healing, collagen synthesis, and antioxidant enzyme activity. Found naturally in plasma, saliva, and urine — levels decline with age. In vitro and animal evidence for skin remodelling and wound repair is solid; the dermatology literature on topical application is more developed than the systemic injection data. Nobody's done the RCT on subcutaneous injection in humans.

Ipamorelin

A selective GH secretagogue that binds the ghrelin receptor (GHSR-1a) to stimulate pituitary GH release. Its clinical edge over older GHRPs: it doesn't significantly raise cortisol or prolactin. Animal studies show it increases GH and IGF-1 without the cortisol spike that limits GHRP-6 utility. Human trials are limited. The clean hormonal profile is the main draw — nobody's proven it outperforms competitors in humans.

KPV

The three C-terminal amino acids of alpha-MSH — responsible for most of its anti-inflammatory activity in cell studies. It blocks NF-κB signalling and reduces pro-inflammatory cytokine production. In animal models of gut inflammation it reduces colitis severity. The oral route interests researchers because IBD affects the gut: if KPV survives digestion, it could hit inflamed tissue directly. That's a big if. Human trials don't exist yet.

MOTS-c

Encoded in mitochondrial DNA — not nuclear DNA. That's unusual. It's the first peptide shown to have a mitochondrial genetic origin with systemic metabolic effects. Mouse models show it shifts metabolism toward fat burning and makes cells respond better to insulin — effects that look a lot like what exercise does. Human circulating levels decline with age and metabolic disease. The exercise-mimetic angle is what drives interest. The human evidence base is observational — what we know is that the levels change; what we don't know is whether supplementing them does what it does in mice.

PT-141

FDA-approved in June 2019 as Vyleesi for hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. It acts centrally on melanocortin receptors — MC1R, MC3R, MC4R — to modulate dopaminergic signalling. The mechanism bypasses the vascular pathway that drugs like sildenafil target. Off-label interest in men exists; the approved evidence base is in women. Compounding is restricted as it's an approved drug.

Selank

A Russian-developed anxiolytic heptapeptide, structurally related to tuftsin (an immunomodulatory tetrapeptide). The mechanism isn't clean: it appears to influence GABAergic transmission, BDNF expression, and enkephalin degradation. Russian clinical trials in the 1990s–2000s showed anxiolytic effects without sedation or dependence liability. Those trials were small and published in Russian-language journals — the Western evidence base is thin.

Semax

A synthetic heptapeptide based on the 4–10 fragment of ACTH, engineered to retain neurotrophic properties without hormonal activity. In animal models it increases BDNF and NGF, supports neurogenesis, and shows neuroprotective effects after ischemia. A registered medicine in Russia for stroke recovery and cognitive decline. The non-Russian clinical trial base is small — the neurotrophic mechanism is real, the human benefit in healthy people is not established.

Sermorelin

The most clinically tested GH-stimulating peptide in this class. It's a synthetic fragment of natural GHRH — the signal your hypothalamus sends to trigger pituitary GH release. Once marketed as Geref for GH deficiency diagnostics in children. The clinical development history is real; so are the limitations: it works on a declining pituitary, so age and baseline function determine the ceiling.

TB-500

TB-500 is a grey-market name, not one molecule. A vial may hold full-length synthetic thymosin beta-4 (43 amino acids) or short fragments of it. Thymosin beta-4 is a protein that binds actin, which helps cells move during tissue repair. In animals it speeds wound healing, calms inflammation and helps grow new blood vessels. Almost all of that research used the full-length protein. No human trial of any version has tested tendon repair.

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Tesamorelin

The only FDA-approved GHRH analog. Approved in 2010 for HIV-associated lipodystrophy under the brand name Egrifta — specifically for the excess visceral fat accumulation that antiretroviral therapy causes. Two Phase III trials showed a 15–18% reduction in visceral adipose tissue over 26 weeks. Off-label interest in body composition is driven by those numbers. The compounding restriction is firm: you cannot compound a copy of an approved drug.

Thymosin Alpha-1

A 28-amino-acid peptide originally isolated from calf thymic tissue. It modulates both innate and adaptive immunity — upregulating dendritic cell maturation, increasing T-cell activity, and enhancing natural killer cell function. Approved in over 35 countries under the brand name Zadaxin for viral hepatitis and as an adjuvant in immunocompromised patients. Not FDA-approved. It occupies an unusual regulatory position: extensive international clinical history, no approved US indication, compoundable as a 503A bulk substance.