GuideReading the evidence
From cells to people: understand the research stages
A promising mechanism, an animal experiment and a human trial answer different questions. Here is how to tell which kind of evidence you are reading.
VETUD / News
News & articles.
Research, regulation and learning guides, explained in plain language. Every article has connected videos and source links.
GuideReading the evidence
Body weight, fat and muscle: read the right result
A percentage means little without its denominator. Learn why changes in body weight, a fat deposit and a measurement in rats belong in different comparisons.
StudyWeight management
PTT-A targets four receptors. The evidence is still in animals
The experimental peptide combines GLP-1, GIP, amylin and calcitonin activity. Here is what the original research can tell us about weight loss.
GuideRecovery & mobility
BPC-157 has dozens of animal studies. The human evidence fits on one page
A 2025 systematic review found 35 preclinical studies and a single clinical one. Here is what the few human reports did, and did not, show.
GuideRecovery & mobility
Blends mix BPC-157, TB-500 and GHK-Cu. The mixtures are untested in people
Recovery blends and “glow” vials put several peptides in one product. The evidence for each ingredient is limited; for the combinations it is almost absent.
StudyPerformance & growth
Tesamorelin cut deep belly fat by 15% in its main trial
The growth-hormone-releasing medicine is approved for a narrow use in people with HIV. A later trial measured liver fat too.
GuidePerformance & growth
CJC-1295, ipamorelin and sermorelin: what the human studies actually tested
These peptides prompt the body to release its own growth hormone. The human research is short and small, and sometimes concerns a different version from the one sold online.
StudyPerformance & growth
Growth hormone in healthy older adults: a little more muscle, the same weight, more side effects
A systematic review of randomized trials found small changes in body composition and higher rates of swelling and joint pain. Its authors could not recommend it against aging.
GuideWeight management
AOD-9604: the growth hormone fragment that never became a medicine
It cut weight gain in obese rodents and looked as well tolerated as placebo in human trials. We could not find a full peer-reviewed report of human weight loss.
GuideConcentration & focus
Semax and Selank are medicines in Russia. The evidence rarely leaves the country
Both nasal-spray peptides are registered in Russia, for stroke recovery and anxiety. The studies behind them are small, and few have been repeated elsewhere.
StudyLongevity
Epitalon lengthened telomeres in lab cells, including cancer cells
A 2025 study found the anti-aging peptide extended the protective caps on chromosomes in normal and breast cancer cell lines, by two different routes.
GuidePigmentation
One tanning peptide became a medicine. The other became a dermatologist’s warning
Afamelanotide (Melanotan I) is approved for a rare light-sensitivity disease. Melanotan II was only tested in tiny early studies, and case reports link it to melanoma and kidney damage.
StudySexual health
PT-141 became a medicine for low desire. The effect was modest
Two phase 3 trials of bremelanotide in 1,267 women found small but significant gains in desire and less distress, with frequent nausea.
StudyFertility & hormones
Kisspeptin matured eggs for IVF without dangerous ovary over-stimulation
In 60 women at high risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, one kisspeptin-54 injection triggered egg maturation in 95%, and none developed moderate or severe OHSS.
StudyImmune support
The largest trial of thymosin alpha-1 in sepsis found no survival benefit
In 1,106 adults with sepsis, 23.4% on thymosin alpha-1 and 24.1% on placebo had died after 28 days.
StudyEnergy & metabolism
SS-31 became the first approved mitochondria-targeted medicine
Elamipretide (Forzinity) won accelerated FDA approval for Barth syndrome in September 2025, based on leg-muscle strength. A further trial must confirm the benefit.
StudyEnergy & metabolism
“Exercise pills” and fat-enzyme blockers have only been tested in mice
SLU-PP-332 and 5-Amino-1MQ reduced fat in obese mice. Neither is a peptide, and neither has been tested in people.
StudyHair
Copper peptides grew hair follicles in a dish. On scalps, the evidence is thin
AHK-Cu lengthened human hair follicles in the lab. The one small placebo-controlled trial we found tested a GHK combination, not copper peptides alone.
StudyRecovery & mobility
ARA-290 increased tiny nerve fibers in a 28-day trial
In 64 people with sarcoidosis-related nerve damage, one of three doses of cibinetide increased nerve fibers in the cornea compared with placebo.
GuideSleep
DSIP was named for deep sleep. Decades later, the link is still unproven
Delta sleep-inducing peptide was found in 1977. Its gene, its receptor and a reliable sleep effect have never been pinned down.
StudySkin
A cream that targets an “aging switch” firmed skin in 12 weeks
In a controlled trial, a serum containing RLX-201 improved firmness, elasticity and sagging compared with the same cream without it.
StudyWeight management
A new injection makes fat cells self-destruct, and might help stop weight coming back
A small MRI analysis found a 12% reduction in visceral-fat volume, not body weight. A possible effect on weight regain after GLP-1 medicines is still an animal finding.
RegulationRegulation
FDA advisers weigh in on BPC-157 and six other peptides
A federal advisory panel looked at whether pharmacies should be allowed to make seven popular peptides. Here’s what happened, and what it does and doesn’t mean.
StudyWeight management
Two more wins for retatrutide, in people with diabetes and heart disease
New phase 3 results show strong weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes or heart disease. Lilly plans to apply for US approval by early 2027.
StudyWeight management
Retatrutide’s first big trial: 28% weight loss in 80 weeks
Eli Lilly’s experimental “triple” hormone medicine helped people lose more than a quarter of their body weight on the top dose.
RegulationRegulation
12 popular peptides come off the FDA’s “do not compound” list. Here’s what that means
BPC-157, TB-500, GHK-Cu and nine others are no longer on the FDA’s list of risky compounding ingredients. That isn’t the same as approval.
StudyWeight management
In a head-to-head trial, Zepbound beat CagriSema
Novo Nordisk’s next-generation combination led to 23% weight loss, but Lilly’s tirzepatide reached about 25%.
NewsWeight management
The first GLP-1 weight-loss pill is approved in the US
Wegovy now comes as a once-a-day tablet. In its main trial, people lost 13.6% of their body weight on average.
VETUD Learn explains published research in plain language. It is general information, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or changing any treatment.