Healing & recovery · Evidence comparison
TB-500 vs GHK-Cu
Two peptides marketed for tissue repair — but their evidence lives in completely different places.
TB-500
GHK-Cu
Headline claim shown. Grades are claim-specific — see the full breakdown below.
The evidence, side by side
Every graded claim from each brief. Grades are read straight from the source-checked briefs — one molecule can be strong for one use and weak for another.
Healing / recovery
TB-500
Evidence grades
Skin / wound healing / anti-aging
GHK-Cu
Evidence grades
Regulatory status at a glance
TB-500
Not FDA-approved for human use. Listed by the FDA as 'Thymosin beta-4, fragment (LKKTETQ), also known as TB-500'; removed from compounding 'Category 2' in April 2026 after nominations were withdrawn — which does NOT by itself authorize compounding. On the July 2026 FDA advisory committee agenda. Prohibited at all times in sport by WADA. Currently sold gray-market as 'research only.'
GHK-Cu
Topical GHK-Cu (as Copper Tripeptide-1) is a legal OTC cosmetic ingredient widely used in skincare products, and can be physician-prescribed as a compounded topical. Injectable GHK-Cu is in FDA compounding Category 2 (significant safety concerns) and cannot be legally compounded for injection; it is scheduled for February 2027 PCAC review. Not FDA-approved as a drug for any indication.
Key differences
- GHK-Cu's topical skin improvement is graded S (real human data); TB-500's marketed recovery use is graded B (anecdotal).
- TB-500's only strong human evidence belongs to the full-length protein thymosin beta-4, not the fragment sold as TB-500.
- Topical GHK-Cu is a legal cosmetic; injectable GHK-Cu and TB-500 are unapproved and not legally compoundable for injection.
The bottom line
GHK-Cu has an actual human-evidence grade for topical skin use; TB-500's marketed injectable use rests on anecdote, with its real research attached to a different molecule. We don't recommend either — we show where the proof actually is.
PeptideIQ Base does not recommend, rank, or endorse any peptide, dose, or product. We grade the strength of the evidence so you can read it for yourself.
Read the full briefs
Full evidence brief
TB-500 →
A synthetic 7-amino-acid fragment of the natural protein thymosin beta-4, sold for injury recovery — but the real human research is on the full protein, not this fragment.
Full evidence brief
GHK-Cu →
A naturally occurring copper-binding tripeptide with decades of skin-science research — as a topical cream it has real human data for wrinkle reduction, but the injectable form biohackers use has no controlled human evidence and can't be legally compounded.
See every peptide, graded on one page
The Peptide Evidence Report Card grades all our peptides S+ to C on the strength of the human evidence. Research only — no hype, never a recommendation.
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