Compare

All 28 peptides on the same axes. Within each group the strongest evidence sits at the top, so the order is itself a finding. The last column is not a summary we wrote: it is the single best-supported claim from each monograph, lifted as-is. How the tiers work.

EstablishedApproved, or proven in a pivotal human trial.ClinicalTested in people, but not yet at pivotal scale.PreclinicalShown in animals or cells, not yet in people.EmergingEarly signals and theory. The frontier.

Head to head

The pairs people actually weigh against each other, with every point of difference cited.

Weight & metabolism

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GLP-1 agonists and the fragments that chase them.

Peptide	Best evidence	Human-tested	Status	Best-supported finding
LiraglutideGLP-1 receptor agonist	Established	2 of 2	FDA-approved	Produced 8.0% mean body-weight loss vs 2.6% on placebo over 56 weeks in adults without diabetes (SCALE).
SemaglutideGLP-1 receptor agonist	Established	2 of 2	FDA-approved	Produced ~14.9% mean body-weight loss vs ~2.4% on placebo over 68 weeks in adults with obesity (STEP 1).
TirzepatideGIP / GLP-1 dual receptor agonist	Established	1 of 1	FDA-approved	Produced ~20.9% mean body-weight reduction at 72 weeks on the top dose vs ~3.1% on placebo (SURMOUNT-1).
CagrilintideLong-acting amylin analog	Clinical	2 of 2	Research-only	Produced 6.0% to 10.8% mean weight loss across doses vs 3.0% on placebo over 26 weeks, and beat liraglutide at the top dose (Phase 2).
AOD-9604Growth-hormone fragment	Clinical	1 of 2	Research-only	Did not produce statistically significant weight loss versus placebo in human obesity trials.
MOTS-cMitochondrial-derived peptide	Clinical	1 of 3	Research-only	Plasma MOTS-c levels tracked with insulin sensitivity in lean but not obese people (cross-sectional).
RetatrutideGIP / GLP-1 / glucagon triple agonist	Clinical	1 of 2	Research-only	83% of participants lost ≥15% body weight and mean loss reached ~24.2% at 48 weeks on the top dose in a Phase 2 RCT.

Growth hormone axis

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GHRH analogs and secretagogues that raise GH and IGF-1.

Peptide	Best evidence	Human-tested	Status	Best-supported finding
TesamorelinGHRH analog	Established	2 of 2	FDA-approved	FDA-approved to reduce visceral adipose tissue in HIV-associated lipodystrophy, based on two Phase 3 randomized trials.
GHRP-2Ghrelin-receptor / GH secretagogue	Clinical	2 of 2	Approved abroad	Produced GH responses in children equal to GHRH and synergistic with it; intranasal doses were effective and well tolerated.
SermorelinGHRH analog	Clinical	2 of 2	Withdrawn	Increased height velocity over 12 months in prepubertal children with idiopathic GH deficiency, with limited data suggesting the effect persists to 36 months.
GHRP-6Ghrelin-receptor / GH secretagogue	Clinical	2 of 3	Research-only	Raised overnight GH, ACTH and cortisol and increased stage 2 sleep in healthy men (placebo-controlled).
HexarelinGhrelin-receptor / GH secretagogue	Clinical	2 of 3	Research-only	Two or three daily injections raised 24-hour GH secretion in healthy men without changing IGF-1, prolactin, ACTH or cortisol over one day.
IpamorelinGhrelin-receptor / GH secretagogue	Clinical	2 of 4	Research-only	Produced a single, dose-dependent GH pulse in healthy volunteers, with a terminal half-life of about two hours.
AOD-9604Growth-hormone fragment	Clinical	1 of 2	Research-only	Did not produce statistically significant weight loss versus placebo in human obesity trials.
CJC-1295Long-acting GHRH analog	Clinical	1 of 1	Research-only	Raised GH 2–10× (for ≥6 days) and IGF-1 1.5–3× (for 9–11 days) after a single dose in healthy adults; half-life ~6–8 days.

Repair & recovery

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The tissue-repair peptides behind the recovery buzz.

Peptide	Best evidence	Human-tested	Status	Best-supported finding
TB-500Synthetic actin-binding fragment of thymosin β4	Established	1 of 3	Research-only	TB-500 is a synthetic Ac-LKKTETQ fragment of thymosin β4, not the native protein.
LL-37Human antimicrobial peptide	Clinical	2 of 3	Research-only	Did not improve healing of hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers versus placebo in the full population of a Phase 2b RCT; a post-hoc subgroup with large wounds improved.
GHK-CuCopper-binding tripeptide	Clinical	1 of 2	Research-only	Topical GHK-Cu improved skin density and reduced fine lines vs vehicle over ~12 weeks in small controlled studies.
Thymosin β4Actin-sequestering regenerative peptide	Clinical	1 of 3	Research-only	Missed both primary endpoints (discomfort, inferior corneal staining) but improved several secondary measures in a 72-patient placebo-controlled Phase 2 dry-eye trial.
BPC-157Synthetic pentadecapeptide (gastric-derived)	Preclinical	None yet	Research-only	Accelerated tendon, muscle, and gut-lining healing in rodent injury models.
KPVAnti-inflammatory tripeptide	Preclinical	None yet	Research-only	Reduced colitis in mouse models; taken up via the PepT1 transporter and suppresses NF-κB inflammatory signaling.

Skin

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Cosmetic peptides with a real dermatology record.

Peptide	Best evidence	Human-tested	Status	Best-supported finding
GHK-CuCopper-binding tripeptide	Clinical	1 of 2	Research-only	Topical GHK-Cu improved skin density and reduced fine lines vs vehicle over ~12 weeks in small controlled studies.

Mind & mood

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Nootropic and anxiolytic peptides, mostly Russian-clinical.

Peptide	Best evidence	Human-tested	Status	Best-supported finding
SemaxACTH (4-10) analog	Preclinical	None yet	Approved abroad	Regulated BDNF and TrkB expression in rat hippocampus – the mechanistic basis for its nootropic claims.
DihexaAngiotensin IV analog	Preclinical	None yet	Research-only	Reversed scopolamine-induced memory deficits and increased hippocampal synaptogenesis in rats (study now under a Notice of Concern).
SelankTuftsin-derived heptapeptide	Emerging	None yet	Approved abroad	Comparable anxiolytic effect to a benzodiazepine, with added anti-asthenic effects, in a small Russian study of generalized anxiety and neurasthenia.

Immune

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Immunomodulators with approvals abroad.

Peptide	Best evidence	Human-tested	Status	Best-supported finding
Thymosin alpha-1Immunomodulatory peptide	Clinical	2 of 2	Approved abroad	Studied in chronic viral hepatitis, alone and combined with interferon.
LL-37Human antimicrobial peptide	Clinical	2 of 3	Research-only	Did not improve healing of hard-to-heal venous leg ulcers versus placebo in the full population of a Phase 2b RCT; a post-hoc subgroup with large wounds improved.

Longevity

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Mitochondrial and telomere peptides at the frontier.

Peptide	Best evidence	Human-tested	Status	Best-supported finding
MOTS-cMitochondrial-derived peptide	Clinical	1 of 3	Research-only	Plasma MOTS-c levels tracked with insulin sensitivity in lean but not obese people (cross-sectional).
EpithalonPineal tetrapeptide	Preclinical	None yet	Research-only	Induced telomerase (hTERT) activity and telomere elongation in cultured human somatic cells.

Sexual health & pigmentation

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Melanocortin agonists, one approved and one not.

Peptide	Best evidence	Human-tested	Status	Best-supported finding
BremelanotideMelanocortin receptor agonist	Established	2 of 2	FDA-approved	FDA-approved for HSDD in premenopausal women, based on two Phase 3 trials (RECONNECT).
AfamelanotideMelanocortin receptor agonist	Established	1 of 1	FDA-approved	Increased pain-free sunlight exposure and reduced phototoxic reactions versus placebo in two randomized trials in erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Melanotan IIMelanocortin receptor agonist	Clinical	2 of 2	Research-only	A broad-spectrum α-MSH analog and potent agonist at MC1R/MC3R/MC4R, driving pigmentation and sexual response (early human Phase I).

A peptide can appear in more than one group. “Human-tested” counts efficacy claims at Tier 1 or 2; regulatory facts are excluded so an approval alone never inflates the count.