At a glance
- GHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved drug: Drugs@FDA has no record of it.
- It was on FDA's Category 2 safety-risk list until the nomination was withdrawn. A withdrawal is not an approval.
- PubMed lists 103 publications mentioning it, including 1 randomized controlled trial and 14 animal-only studies.
- ClinicalTrials.gov lists 3 registered studies testing it (3 active).
- FDA's adverse event system (FAERS) holds 3 reports mentioning it; 3 classified as serious. Reports do not prove causation.
Research topics
Most frequent MeSH subject headings in the latest PubMed records (English, as indexed).
Regulatory status
Drugs@FDA applications
No application found in Drugs@FDA, FDA's database of approved drugs.
Source: Drugs@FDA (openFDA) · verified October 30, 2026 · API query
FDA compounding safety list
FDA's stated risk · Original FDA text (English) Compounded injectable drugs containing GHK-Cu may pose risk for immunogenicity due to the potential for aggregation and peptide-related impurities. There are limited data in humans to inform safety-related considerations. Source: FDA.gov — Category 2 bulk drug substances · verified October 30, 2026
Removal of a substance from a regulatory list does not mean it has been approved. A "research use only" label does not make a product safe or legal for human use.
Scientific publications
Counts are PubMed records that mention the peptide in the title or abstract. Categories overlap, and a mention is not the same as testing the peptide as a treatment. Each number opens the exact PubMed search. Effects seen in laboratory or animal studies may not occur in humans. A registered clinical trial does not show that a substance is effective or safe.
Latest publications
- Peptides in Aesthetic Dermatology: Classification, Fibroblast-Centered Mechanisms, Delivery Technologies, and Clinical Evidence.
- Characterization of copper tripeptide-loaded lipid carriers and their stability in complex cosmetic matrices.
- GHK-Cu as a Bioactive Metallopeptide and Drug-Delivery Cargo: Coordination Chemistry, Formulation Science, Therapeutic Evidence, and a Translational Roadmap.
- A Systematic Review of the Mechanisms and Therapeutic Applications of GHK-Cu (Glycyl-L-Histidyl-L-Lysine-Copper Complex) in Topical Microneedle Delivery: A Case for Expanded Clinical Trials.
- Water-Soluble, Enzyme-Degradable, and Hydrolyzable STAR Particles for Enhanced Drug Delivery to Skin.
- Peptides in Regenerative Medicine: A Comprehensive Review of Clinical Applications in Tissue Repair and Chronic Pain Management.
- The Regenerative Potential of GHK-Cu in Aesthetic Medicine.
- A tea exosome-integrated self‑oxygenating cascade chitosan/oxidized alginate hydrogel for remodeling the hyperglycemic and hypoxic microenvironment in diabetic wound healing.
- Peptide Supplements and Their Therapeutic Applications in Sports Medicine.
- Augmented Skin Beneficial Effects of Thermus Thermophilus and Bacillus Subtilis Mixed-Culture Ferment Extract by Tripeptide GHK-Cu.
Source: PubMed (NCBI) · verified October 30, 2026
Clinical trials
- Registered
- 3
- Active
- 3
- With posted results
- 0
Conditions studied
| Study | Status | Phase | Start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Part Study of the Effects of the X39 Patch on Circulating GHK and GHK-Cu Levels in Healthy Adults | Not yet recruiting | N/A | Jan 2027 |
| Systemic and Topical Geroprotective Rejuvenation Assessed by START/REST Aging Clocks | Enrolling by invitation | Early phase 1 | October 21, 2026 |
| Topical GHK-Cu Gel for Acute Skin Wound Healing | Recruiting | Phase 2 | February 2, 2026 |
All 3 studies on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · verified October 30, 2026
Adverse event reports
- Reports
- 3
- Serious
- 3
- With death outcome
- 0
Most reported reactions
Adverse event reports do not prove that the substance caused these effects. Side effects not listed here may still occur. Reaction terms are MedDRA terms as reported to FAERS.
Source: FDA FAERS (FAERS data as of July 30, 2026) · verified October 30, 2026 · API query
FDA prescribing information
Official US prescribing information. Dosing sections are intentionally not shown.
Original FDA text (English) For external use only. Keep out of reach of children.Avoid contact with eyes. - MELAO GHK-Cu PEPTIDE SUNSCREEN
- YVTYVT Copper Peptides Face Serum
- YVTYVT COPPER PEPTIDES FACIAL SERUM
Source: DailyMed / openFDA
Change history
No changes since monitoring began on October 30, 2026.