GHK-Cu
Grey marketNot approved for human use in the US, and sold anyway. This applies to the injectable form.
A 1994 randomized trial found more closure of diabetic foot ulcers with a GHK-Cu gel than with a vehicle gel. After laser resurfacing, GHK-Cu skin care did not differ from skin care without it on objectively rated wrinkles, though patients rated it higher. No hair growth trial was sourced. FDA flagged injected GHK-Cu for possible immune reactions.
Add to Bio HackChecked 2026-11-09
- Status
- Not FDA-approved as a drug for any use in the US. Used as an ingredient in topical cosmetic products. FDA lists injectable GHK-Cu among bulk substances previously placed in category 2 for compounding, whose nominations were later withdrawn. Non-injectable GHK-Cu is back in category 1, under evaluation for compounding, and FDA intends to consult its advisory committee on it before the end of February 2027.
- Also called
- copper peptide, copper tripeptide-1, GHK copper, glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper
- Taken for
- skin aging, wrinkles, collagen, hair growth, wound healing, injury recovery
Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on
Shown to help1
Reported risks2
- LimitedFDA states compounded injectable GHK-Cu may pose a risk of immunogenicity from aggregation and peptide impurities, with limited human data on safety.How often is not known
- LimitedFDA states non-injectable GHK-Cu will be added back to category 1, meaning under evaluation, and plans to consult its advisory committee by February 2027.How often is not known
What people take it for, and what was found
Shown to help1
Healing of diabetic foot ulcers
One trial found plantar ulcers closed 98.5% on GHK-Cu gel against 60.8% on a vehicle gel, alongside standard wound care in people with diabetes.
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- In a multicenter, randomized, evaluator-blinded, vehicle-controlled trial in which every patient also received standardized wound care, median closure of plantar ulcers was 98.5% of ulcer area with GHK-Cu gel and 60.8% with the vehicle gel (p < 0.05), and closure was three times faster than with standard care and vehicle. In plantar ulcers larger than 100 mm², median closure was 89.2% with GHK-Cu gel and minus 10.3% with vehicle (p < 0.01). When treatment began right after debridement, plantar ulcer infections occurred in 7% with GHK-Cu gel and 34% with vehicle (p < 0.05) [1].
- Population
- Adults with diabetes and neuropathic foot ulcers at several centers. The abstract does not give the number enrolled or the length of treatment [1].
- Sources
- [1]
- Caveats
- One trial, published in 1994, of one gel product used alongside daily wound care, pressure-relieving footwear and debridement [1]. A 2026 review found the clinical evidence for GHK-Cu sparse, and noted that a phase 2 acute wound trial was still recruiting with no results [2].
Mixed results1
Skin aging and wrinkles
Limited evidence: one small trial found no difference in redness or wrinkles after laser resurfacing. A review reported less wrinkle volume with topical products.
The numbers and sources
- Effect
- In a randomized trial after carbon dioxide laser resurfacing around the mouth, skin care regimens with and without GHK-Cu did not differ in how fast redness resolved, judged by software and blinded evaluators, or in objectively rated wrinkles and skin quality at 12 weeks. Patients using GHK-Cu rated their improvement in overall skin quality higher on a validated questionnaire (p = 0.04) [3]. A 2026 systematic review of GHK-Cu in aesthetic medicine included 2 randomized trials among 20 studies and reported that GHK-Cu reduced wrinkle volume and depth compared with controls. Its abstract gives no figures [4].
- Population
- 13 patients completed the laser trial [3]. The review covered 2 randomized trials and 18 preclinical studies, searched through March 2026 [4].
- Sources
- [3], [4]
- Caveats
- Both reviews describe the human evidence as limited. One cites few well-designed trials and variable methods [4], and the other describes historical cosmetic reports as small or incompletely characterized [2]. These studies tested topical products, not injections.
Not yet researched2
Hair growth
We haven't sourced research on this yet.
Injury recovery
We haven't sourced research on this yet.
Risks
Reported risks2
FDA compounding category 2 listing for injected GHK-Cu
FDA states compounded injectable GHK-Cu may pose a risk of immunogenicity from aggregation and peptide impurities, with limited human data on safety.
The numbers and sources
- How common
- How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
- Effect
- FDA states that compounded injectable drugs containing GHK-Cu may pose a risk of immunogenicity because of possible aggregation and peptide-related impurities, and that there are limited data in humans to inform safety. GHK-Cu for injectable routes appears on FDA's list of substances previously in category 2 whose nominations were withdrawn by the nominators [5].
- Population
- Compounded injectable drug products in the US [5].
- Sources
- [5]
- Caveats
- The listing covers injectable routes only. It does not address topical cosmetic use [5].
FDA evaluation of non-injectable GHK-Cu
FDA states non-injectable GHK-Cu will be added back to category 1, meaning under evaluation, and plans to consult its advisory committee by February 2027.
The numbers and sources
- How common
- How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
- Effect
- FDA states that GHK-Cu for routes other than injection was removed from category 1 on April 22, 2026, when its nominations were withdrawn. On May 5, 2026, one nominator clarified that it meant to withdraw only the injectable route, and FDA states that non-injectable GHK-Cu will be added back to category 1. FDA has announced that it intends to consult its Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee before the end of February 2027 on adding GHK-Cu to the 503A bulks list [6].
- Population
- Compounded non-injectable drug products in the US [6].
- Sources
- [6]
- Caveats
- Category 1 means under evaluation. It is not an FDA approval and not a study of harm.
Not yet researched1
Human safety data
We haven't sourced research on this yet.
Sources
- Mulder GD, Patt LM, Sanders L, et al. Enhanced healing of ulcers in patients with diabetes by topical treatment with glycyl-l-histidyl-l-lysine copper. Wound Repair and Regeneration. 1994. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1524-475x.1994.20406.x
- Mateescu DM, Gavrilescu DM, Mincioaga RI, et al. GHK-Cu as a Bioactive Metallopeptide and Drug-Delivery Cargo: Coordination Chemistry, Formulation Science, Therapeutic Evidence, and a Translational Roadmap. Pharmaceutics. 2026. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics18091077
- Miller TR, Wagner JD, Baack BR, Eisbach KJ. Effects of Topical Copper Tripeptide Complex on CO2 Laser-Resurfaced Skin. Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery. 2006. https://doi.org/10.1001/archfaci.8.4.252
- Mokhtar J, Mohamad B, Haddad J, et al. The Regenerative Potential of GHK-Cu in Aesthetic Medicine. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2026. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjag169
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Certain Bulk Drug Substances for Use in Compounding that May Present Significant Safety Risks. 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/certain-bulk-drug-substances-use-compounding-may-present-significant-safety-risks
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503A of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Updated May 14, 2026. 2026. https://www.fda.gov/media/94155/download