GHK-Cu
Also called copper tripeptide-1, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+), copper tripeptide complex, tripeptide-copper complex
Research and education only. Not medical advice. Talk to a doctor.
In 30 seconds
Copper bound to GHK, a tiny peptide of three amino acids.[5]
First found in human blood in 1973; most evidence since comes from lab and animal studies.[1][7]
Not an FDA-approved drug. It's widely used in skin-care products.[7][11]
How far has the research gotten?
The one human study here tested skin products after laser treatment; objective measures showed no difference.[5]
The molecule
Bound to one copper atom.
Research over time
Papers on PubMed each year that mention GHK-Cu.12 papers in 2025FDA treats them differently: the non-injectable form is under review for compounding, while the injectable form was on its safety-risk list until withdrawn.[8][9]
What studies used
What each paper reports. A record of published research, not a recommendation.The first report of a small peptide in human serum that affected the survival and growth of liver cells.
Nat New Biol · 1973 · PubMed 4349963What the paper reports
not stated in abstract (no abstract available)
Who: liver cells (species and setting not stated; no abstract in PubMed)Whether skin-care products with GHK-Cu, used after CO2 laser resurfacing around the mouth, changed redness, wrinkles or skin quality compared with a regimen without GHK-Cu; objective measures showed no difference, while patient-rated satisfaction was higher.
Arch Facial Plast Surg · 2006 · PubMed 16847171What the paper reports
not stated in abstract
Who: human (13 patients completed)Knee laxity, graft strength and tissue findings after ACL reconstruction in rats given GHK-Cu or saline; differences seen at 6 weeks were not present at 12 weeks.
J Orthop Res · 2015 · PubMed 25731775What the paper reports
0.3 or 3 mg/ml GHK-Cu intra-articular injections once weekly for 4 weeks starting at week 2 after surgery (saline control)
Who: rat (72)Whether GHK-Cu packaged in liposomes, compared with free GHK-Cu, changed blood-vessel growth and healing of burn wounds in mice.
Wound Repair Regen · 2017 · PubMed 28370978What the paper reports
not stated in abstract
Who: mouse, plus human umbilical vein endothelial cellsWhat it is, in full 4
GHK-Cu is a complex of copper with GHK, a small peptide made of three amino acids (glycine, histidine and lysine)[5].
The peptide was first reported in 1973 by Pickart and Thaler as a tripeptide in human blood serum that prolonged the survival of normal liver cells[1].
A 1980 paper proposed that its activity in cells involves helping them take up copper[3].
It is used in cosmetic products and studied for skin and wound repair, with much of the evidence coming from lab and animal models such as a mouse burn-wound study[7].
Regulatory details 4
Searches of FDA's Drugs@FDA data through openFDA for 'GHK-Cu' and 'copper tripeptide-1' returned no approved application.[11]
Checked 2026-10-06FDA's safety-risk page (content current as of 04/22/2026) lists 'GHK-Cu (for injectable routes of administration)' among substances previously in Category 2 whose nominations were withdrawn, citing possible immunogenicity from aggregation and impurities and limited human data.[8]
Checked 2026-10-06FDA's 503A list updated May 14, 2026 places GHK-Cu (except for injectable routes) back in Category 1 after a nominator clarified its withdrawal, and says FDA intends to consult its compounding advisory committee before the end of February 2027.[9]
Checked 2026-10-06The 2026 Prohibited List does not name GHK-Cu or copper peptides.[10]
Checked 2026-10-06Human trials on ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov returns 3 records for GHK-Cu: a completed phase 4 facial-treatment study whose description mentions a copper peptide as a product ingredient, a patch study measuring blood GHK and GHK-Cu levels that has not started recruiting, and a topical-gel wound record from a sponsor whose other records include ones labeled mock or fictional, so that record is not treated as verified here[12].
All sources 13
- Pickart L, Thaler MM. Tripeptide in human serum which prolongs survival of normal liver cells and stimulates growth in neoplastic liver. Nat New Biol 1973PubMed (NLM)
- Growth-modulating serum tripeptide is glycyl-histidyl-lysine. Experientia 1977PubMed (NLM)
- Growth-modulating plasma tripeptide may function by facilitating copper uptake into cells. Nature 1980PubMed (NLM)
- Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data (review). Int J Mol Sci 2018PubMed (NLM)
- Miller TR et al. Effects of topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin. Arch Facial Plast Surg 2006PubMed (NLM)
- Fu SC et al. GHK-Cu in a rat model of ACL reconstruction. J Orthop Res 2015PubMed (NLM)
- Wang X et al. GHK-Cu-liposomes accelerate scald wound healing in mice. Wound Repair Regen 2017PubMed (NLM)
- Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks (Category 2 page)U.S. FDA
- Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A (updated May 14, 2026)U.S. FDA
- World Anti-Doping Code International Standard: Prohibited List 2026World Anti-Doping Agency
- openFDA Drugs@FDA search for copper tripeptide-1 (no matches)U.S. FDA (openFDA)
- ClinicalTrials.gov search: GHK-CuClinicalTrials.gov (NLM)
- DailyMed listing: YVTYVT Copper Peptides Face Serum (copper tripeptide-1), manufacturer-submitted OTC labelDailyMed (NLM)
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