GHK-Cu (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex) was first isolated from human plasma and identified as a growth-modulating tripeptide that stimulates tissue remodelling and wound contraction.
Peptide reference
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu
In vitroHow it works
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.
Key studies
Frequently asked
What is GHK-Cu?
GHK-Cu is the copper-bound complex of a naturally occurring three-amino-acid fragment found in human plasma. Its levels decline with age, roughly 200 nanograms per millilitre at twenty down to about 80 by sixty, which is the decline the cosmetic and longevity case is built on. Most of its documented effects need the copper attached to work.
Does GHK-Cu reverse skin aging?
The one published randomized human trial, in patients recovering from laser resurfacing, found GHK-Cu indistinguishable from a placebo regimen on every objective, blinded measurement. Only patient-reported satisfaction came out ahead. The cell and animal research on collagen and skin-repair pathways is real; a controlled trial showing visible age reversal in people isn't there yet.
Is GHK-Cu on the FDA's 2026 PCAC docket?
Not the July 2026 meeting. GHK-Cu is scheduled for the FDA's second Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee meeting, expected before the end of February 2027. The injectable form is coming off the list flagged for safety concerns; the topical form is losing an evaluation status that had allowed it to be compounded. Neither change is an approval.
Are GHK and GHK-Cu the same thing?
Not for most of what's published. GHK alone, without the bound copper, depends on coordinating with copper already in the skin to become active. The evidence built up over decades is on the copper-bound complex specifically, so injecting plain GHK isn't the same intervention as the pre-formed complex most people are actually asking about.
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