What people talk about, against what has actually been shown
Every peptide on this site, plotted by how much it is discussed and how well it is evidenced. Computed from 89 monographs and 425 researched community themes — not from tracker counts, sales, or anything we could not show you the working for.
- Compounds
- 89
- across 14 categories
- No human efficacy evidence
- 36
- 40% rated 1 or 2
- Approved somewhere
- 31
- 35% of the library
- Still in trials
- 10
- outcome not yet known
- Serious risks documented
- 238
- across all monographs
The headline finding. Across the 84 compounds anyone actually chooses to take, 36 — 43% — are rated 1 or 2, meaning no human trial supports the claims made for them. 9 of those sit in the twenty most discussed compounds on the site.
How much something is talked about does predict its evidence a little, but only a little: the correlation between the two is r = 0.13, which accounts for roughly 2% of the variation. The other 98% is why a ranking built on popularity alone is close to useless for deciding what to take — and why this page plots both axes instead of one.
Discussion plotted against evidence
Filter by category, then read the bottom-right corner first. Compounds there are the ones where confident advice is easiest to find and hardest to justify.
Heavily discussed, rated 1 or 2. This is where the gap between what people believe and what has been demonstrated is widest — and where the risk of acting on the belief is highest.
Widely discussed and supported by human trials. Discussion and evidence point the same way.
Rated 4 or 5 and rarely talked about. Usually an approved drug doing an unglamorous job, or one that has been superseded in conversation but not in evidence.
Little discussion, little evidence. Mostly research compounds that never found an audience — several because they failed the trial that would have given them one.
Most discussed, with the evidence beside it
Sortable — click any column heading. This is the closest thing here to a popularity ranking, and it carries the evidence rating and the risk count in the same row on purpose.
| # | Compound | Discussion — sortable | Evidence | Gap | Serious risks | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Semax Cognitive & Neurological | 25 | 2 | +0.75 | 3 | Limited Approval |
| 2 | Semaglutide Metabolic & Weight | 17 | 5 | -0.32 | 3 | FDA Approved |
| 3 | Somatropin (recombinant hGH) Growth Hormone Axis | 17 | 5 | -0.32 | 6 | FDA Approved |
| 4 | CJC-1295 Growth Hormone Axis | 17 | 2 | +0.43 | 5 | Research Use Only |
| 5 | AHK-Cu Skin & Cosmetic | 17 | 1 | +0.68 | 4 | Cosmetic Ingredient |
| 6 | BPC-157 Healing & Tissue Repair | 17 | 1 | +0.68 | 7 | Research Use Only |
| 7 | Insulin Metabolic & Weight | 16 | 5 | -0.36 | 2 | FDA Approved |
| 8 | Leuprolide Hormonal & Reproductive | 16 | 5 | -0.36 | 4 | FDA Approved |
| 9 | MK-677 (Ibutamoren) Growth Hormone Axis | 16 | 3 | +0.14 | 4 | Not a Peptide |
| 10 | NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) Longevity & Mitochondrial | 16 | 2 | +0.39 | 4 | Not a Peptide |
| 11 | 5-Amino-1MQ Metabolic & Weight | 16 | 1 | +0.64 | 4 | Not a Peptide |
| 12 | Melanotan II Sexual Health & Melanocortin | 16 | 1 | +0.64 | 6 | Research Use Only |
| 13 | PTD-DBM Healing & Tissue Repair | 16 | 1 | +0.64 | 3 | Research Use Only |
| 14 | Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Hormonal & Reproductive | 15 | 5 | -0.40 | 3 | FDA Approved |
| 15 | Lanreotide Hormonal & Reproductive | 15 | 5 | -0.40 | 1 | FDA Approved |
| 16 | Octreotide Hormonal & Reproductive | 15 | 5 | -0.40 | 1 | FDA Approved |
| 17 | PT-141 (Bremelanotide) Sexual Health & Melanocortin | 15 | 5 | -0.40 | 2 | FDA Approved |
| 18 | Teriparatide Bone, Muscle & Other | 15 | 5 | -0.40 | 2 | FDA Approved |
| 19 | Tirzepatide Metabolic & Weight | 15 | 5 | -0.40 | 3 | FDA Approved |
| 20 | Livagen Longevity & Mitochondrial | 15 | 2 | +0.35 | 4 | Research Use Only |
| 21 | Glucagon Metabolic & Weight | 14 | 5 | -0.44 | 1 | FDA Approved |
| 22 | Setmelanotide Metabolic & Weight | 14 | 5 | -0.44 | 1 | FDA Approved |
| 23 | Teduglutide Gut & Gastrointestinal | 14 | 5 | -0.44 | 3 | FDA Approved |
| 24 | Retatrutide Metabolic & Weight | 14 | 3 | +0.06 | 3 | In Clinical Trials |
| 25 | Sermorelin Growth Hormone Axis | 14 | 3 | +0.06 | 1 | Limited Approval |
| 26 | Ipamorelin Growth Hormone Axis | 14 | 2 | +0.31 | 3 | Research Use Only |
| 27 | PE-22-28 Cognitive & Neurological | 14 | 1 | +0.56 | 3 | Research Use Only |
| 28 | Afamelanotide Sexual Health & Melanocortin | 13 | 5 | -0.48 | 0 | FDA Approved |
| 29 | Tesamorelin Growth Hormone Axis | 13 | 5 | -0.48 | 1 | FDA Approved |
| 30 | GHK-Cu Skin & Cosmetic | 13 | 3 | +0.02 | 3 | Cosmetic Ingredient |
| 31 | GHRP-2 Growth Hormone Axis | 13 | 3 | +0.02 | 2 | Limited Approval |
| 32 | Glutathione Bone, Muscle & Other | 13 | 3 | +0.02 | 3 | Limited Approval |
| 33 | Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 Skin & Cosmetic | 13 | 2 | +0.27 | 1 | Cosmetic Ingredient |
| 34 | Noopept Cognitive & Neurological | 13 | 2 | +0.27 | 2 | Limited Approval |
| 35 | TB-500 / Thymosin Beta-4 Healing & Tissue Repair | 13 | 2 | +0.27 | 7 | Research Use Only |
| 36 | Cartalax Healing & Tissue Repair | 13 | 1 | +0.52 | 4 | Research Use Only |
| 37 | Abaloparatide Bone, Muscle & Other | 12 | 5 | -0.52 | 1 | FDA Approved |
| 38 | Cenegermin Ophthalmic | 12 | 5 | -0.52 | 0 | FDA Approved |
| 39 | Linaclotide Gut & Gastrointestinal | 12 | 5 | -0.52 | 3 | FDA Approved |
| 40 | Oxytocin Hormonal & Reproductive | 12 | 5 | -0.52 | 3 | FDA Approved |
| 41 | Elamipretide (SS-31) Longevity & Mitochondrial | 12 | 4 | -0.27 | 2 | FDA Approved |
| 42 | GHRP-6 Growth Hormone Axis | 12 | 2 | +0.23 | 2 | Research Use Only |
| 43 | IGF-1 LR3 Growth Hormone Axis | 12 | 1 | +0.48 | 4 | Research Use Only |
| 44 | Desmopressin Cardiac & Vascular | 11 | 5 | -0.56 | 3 | FDA Approved |
| 45 | Liraglutide Metabolic & Weight | 11 | 5 | -0.56 | 2 | FDA Approved |
| 46 | Thymosin Alpha-1 Immune & Anti-inflammatory | 11 | 4 | -0.31 | 2 | Limited Approval |
| 47 | Cerebrolysin Cognitive & Neurological | 11 | 3 | -0.06 | 3 | Limited Approval |
| 48 | Matrixyl (Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4) Skin & Cosmetic | 11 | 3 | -0.06 | 0 | Cosmetic Ingredient |
| 49 | Epitalon Longevity & Mitochondrial | 11 | 2 | +0.19 | 4 | Research Use Only |
| 50 | Selank Cognitive & Neurological | 11 | 2 | +0.19 | 3 | Limited Approval |
| 51 | MOTS-c Longevity & Mitochondrial | 11 | 1 | +0.44 | 5 | Research Use Only |
| 52 | Ciclosporin (Cyclosporine A) Ophthalmic | 10 | 5 | -0.60 | 3 | FDA Approved |
| 53 | Dulaglutide Metabolic & Weight | 10 | 5 | -0.60 | 2 | FDA Approved |
| 54 | Orforglipron Metabolic & Weight | 10 | 4 | -0.35 | 2 | In Clinical Trials |
| 55 | Cagrilintide Metabolic & Weight | 10 | 3 | -0.10 | 2 | In Clinical Trials |
| 56 | Gonadorelin Hormonal & Reproductive | 10 | 3 | -0.10 | 2 | Limited Approval |
| 57 | Survodutide Metabolic & Weight | 10 | 3 | -0.10 | 2 | In Clinical Trials |
| 58 | AOD-9604 Metabolic & Weight | 10 | 2 | +0.15 | 2 | Research Use Only |
| 59 | Thymalin Immune & Anti-inflammatory | 10 | 2 | +0.15 | 4 | Limited Approval |
| 60 | Dihexa Cognitive & Neurological | 10 | 1 | +0.40 | 5 | Research Use Only |
| 61 | GDF-11 Longevity & Mitochondrial | 10 | 1 | +0.40 | 6 | Research Use Only |
| 62 | Macimorelin Growth Hormone Axis | 9 | 5 | -0.64 | 2 | FDA Approved |
| 63 | Mazdutide Metabolic & Weight | 9 | 4 | -0.39 | 1 | Limited Approval |
| 64 | Plecanatide Gut & Gastrointestinal | 9 | 4 | -0.39 | 3 | FDA Approved |
| 65 | Argireline (Acetyl Hexapeptide-8) Skin & Cosmetic | 9 | 3 | -0.14 | 0 | Cosmetic Ingredient |
| 66 | Larazotide Acetate Gut & Gastrointestinal | 9 | 3 | -0.14 | 1 | In Clinical Trials |
| 67 | Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 Skin & Cosmetic | 9 | 3 | -0.14 | 0 | Cosmetic Ingredient |
| 68 | LL-37 Antimicrobial & Antibiotic | 9 | 2 | +0.11 | 4 | Research Use Only |
| 69 | Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) Immune & Anti-inflammatory | 9 | 2 | +0.11 | 0 | In Clinical Trials |
| 70 | Adipotide Bone, Muscle & Other | 9 | 1 | +0.36 | 4 | Research Use Only |
| 71 | Follistatin-344 Bone, Muscle & Other | 9 | 1 | +0.36 | 4 | Research Use Only |
| 72 | FOXO4-DRI Longevity & Mitochondrial | 9 | 1 | +0.36 | 4 | Research Use Only |
| 73 | KPV Immune & Anti-inflammatory | 9 | 1 | +0.36 | 2 | Research Use Only |
| 74 | Pentadeca Arginate (PDA) Healing & Tissue Repair | 9 | 1 | +0.36 | 4 | Research Use Only |
| 75 | Exenatide Metabolic & Weight | 8 | 5 | -0.68 | 2 | FDA Approved |
| 76 | ARA-290 (Cibinetide) Healing & Tissue Repair | 8 | 3 | -0.18 | 2 | In Clinical Trials |
| 77 | Kisspeptin-10 Hormonal & Reproductive | 8 | 3 | -0.18 | 3 | In Clinical Trials |
| 78 | Hexarelin Growth Hormone Axis | 8 | 2 | +0.07 | 3 | Research Use Only |
| 79 | SNAP-8 (Acetyl Octapeptide-3) Skin & Cosmetic | 8 | 2 | +0.07 | 0 | Cosmetic Ingredient |
| 80 | DSIP Bone, Muscle & Other | 8 | 1 | +0.32 | 2 | Research Use Only |
| 81 | Humanin Longevity & Mitochondrial | 8 | 1 | +0.32 | 3 | Research Use Only |
| 82 | Angiotensin (1-7) Cardiac & Vascular | 0 | 3 | -0.50 | 3 | In Clinical Trials |
| 83 | GPIGS (Pentapeptide-20) Skin & Cosmetic | 0 | 3 | -0.50 | 1 | Cosmetic Ingredient |
| 84 | Biotinoyl Tripeptide-1 (Biotinyl-GHK) Skin & Cosmetic | 0 | 2 | -0.25 | 0 | Cosmetic Ingredient |
Hospital-administered antibiotics and withdrawn drugs are excluded from this ranking — nobody chooses them, so a discussion index says nothing useful about them. They remain in every count above.
Where belief and evidence part company
The largest positive gaps in the library, each with the one line from its monograph that reconciles what people report against what has been demonstrated.
-
Semax is an approved drug in Russia for stroke and cognitive indications, which is the source of most claims made for it. That approval rests on a literature that is largely Russian-language, frequently unregistered, rarely blinded to Western standards, and almost never independently replicated — so "clinically approved" carries much less…
-
The community is closer to right than the marketing is. Everything published on AHK-Cu comes from a single 2007 laboratory report — human scalp follicles growing longer in organ culture, dermal papilla cells dividing faster, a shift in apoptosis proteins without a significant fall in the count of dying cells. That is human tissue, but it…
-
This is the widest gap on the site between what people report and what has been demonstrated. There are no published randomized human trials of BPC-157 for any indication, so the tendon and gut reports have nothing to be checked against — they are neither confirmed nor refuted, they are simply untested. The rodent literature is genuinely…
-
The whole published evidence base is rodent and delivered by injection, while the discussion treats the compound as an established oral fat-loss agent. There is no human trial, no human pharmacokinetics and no human body-composition measurement, so none of these reports can be checked against anything at all. The second problem is…
-
The tanning effect is real and mechanistically clear — this is a non-selective melanocortin agonist and MC1R drives melanogenesis. The nausea and erectile effects follow from the same non-selectivity, which is exactly why the selective analogue that became bremelanotide was developed. The divergence is over risk. Melanotan II has never…
-
Here the community and the evidence agree, and both are bleak. Everything published on PTD-DBM is mouse skin, mouse follicles and cultured human cells, nearly always with valproic acid applied beside it; the one genuinely human observation is that CXXC5 is raised in miniaturised follicles and arrector pili muscles in balding scalp, which…
Strong evidence, almost no conversation
Rated 4 or 5 and barely discussed. Worth knowing that a ranking by popularity would bury every one of these.
Which shelves hold the evidence, and which hold the risk
| Category | Compounds | Discussion | Mean evidence | Unproven | Approved | Serious risks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metabolic & Weight | 15 | 184 | 4.0 | 2 | 8 | 32 |
| Growth Hormone Axis | 11 | 145 | 3.0 | 5 | 3 | 33 |
| Longevity & Mitochondrial | 8 | 92 | 1.8 | 7 | 1 | 32 |
| Hormonal & Reproductive | 7 | 91 | 4.4 | 0 | 5 | 17 |
| Cognitive & Neurological | 7 | 84 | 2.0 | 5 | 0 | 21 |
| Skin & Cosmetic | 9 | 80 | 2.4 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| Healing & Tissue Repair | 6 | 76 | 1.5 | 5 | 0 | 27 |
| Bone, Muscle & Other | 6 | 66 | 2.7 | 3 | 2 | 16 |
| Sexual Health & Melanocortin | 3 | 44 | 3.7 | 1 | 2 | 8 |
| Gut & Gastrointestinal | 4 | 44 | 4.3 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Immune & Anti-inflammatory | 4 | 39 | 2.3 | 3 | 0 | 8 |
| Ophthalmic | 2 | 22 | 5.0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Cardiac & Vascular | 3 | 11 | 4.3 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| Antimicrobial & Antibiotic | 4 | 9 | 4.0 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
Compounds that come up in the same conversation
Derived from our own research text: two compounds are linked when the discussion of one names the other. That covers stacks, substitutions and the mix-ups that cause harm — it is not a claim that combining them is studied, and for most of these pairs no combination has ever been tested.
- Melanotan II PT-141 (Bremelanotide) 1/5 · 5/5 each names the other Compare →
- GHRP-2 Ipamorelin 3/5 · 2/5 each names the other Compare →
- GHRP-6 Ipamorelin 2/5 · 2/5 each names the other Compare →
- GHRP-2 GHRP-6 3/5 · 2/5 each names the other Compare →
- PE-22-28 Semax 1/5 · 2/5 Compare →
- Noopept Semax 2/5 · 2/5 Compare →
- Selank Semax 2/5 · 2/5 Compare →
- Insulin Somatropin (recombinant hGH) 5/5 · 5/5 Compare →
- 5-Amino-1MQ NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide) 1/5 · 2/5 Compare →
- Insulin MK-677 (Ibutamoren) 5/5 · 3/5 Compare →
- Semaglutide Tirzepatide 5/5 · 5/5 Compare →
- CJC-1295 Ipamorelin 2/5 · 2/5 Compare →
- Retatrutide Semaglutide 3/5 · 5/5 Compare →
- AHK-Cu GHK-Cu 1/5 · 3/5 Compare →
- Lanreotide Octreotide 5/5 · 5/5 Compare →
- BPC-157 TB-500 / Thymosin Beta-4 1/5 · 2/5 Compare →
How these numbers are made, and what they are not
The discussion index
The sum of frequency weights across a compound's community themes: 3 for a theme that dominates discussion of it, 2 recurring, 1 occasional. It measures how much there is to say about a compound in public discussion, as judged during the research behind each monograph's Opinion section.
It is an editorial index, not a measurement. It is not a headcount, not search volume, not sales, and not app trackers. It has no units, and two compounds a point apart are not meaningfully different. We publish it because the alternative — ranking by numbers we cannot show you — is worse.
The gap
Discussion normalised to a 0–1 scale, minus the evidence rating normalised the same way. Positive means a compound is discussed more than the evidence supports; negative means the reverse. The scale is symmetric on purpose, because "well evidenced and ignored" is a finding too.
The correlation
The relationship between discussion and evidence is computed at page load across the 84 electively-taken compounds — Pearson's r on the discussion index against the evidence rating. It currently sits at r = 0.13 (r² = 0.02). That is a weak positive relationship, not the absence of one, and the page says so because an earlier draft of this section claimed the two were uncorrelated and the arithmetic disagreed.
What a rating does not mean
A 5 means the evidence is strong, not that a compound is safe or right for you — several 5-rated entries carry serious warnings. A 1 means nobody has run the human trial, not that the compound has been disproven. Read the rating and the risks together, which is why every row here carries both.
Updating
Nothing on this page is typed in by hand. Every figure is computed from the monographs at the moment you load it, so it cannot drift out of date relative to the pages it summarises. When a rating changes, this page changes with it.
Not medical advice. This page describes what is discussed and what has been demonstrated. It is not a recommendation, a ranking of what to take, or dosing guidance. Nothing here should be used to start, stop or change any treatment — that is a conversation with a qualified professional.