Serum, compounded, vial: the three-tier table
Every row cites its source. Where a cell reflects our own reading of the evidence rather than an external source, the row says so.
Three products wear the name GHK-Cu. This table is the page's spine: what each tier legally is, what its best evidence actually is, and the grade that evidence earns. Nobody selling any tier draws these lines, which is exactly why we do.
| Tier | Product class | Regulatory status | Best evidence | Grade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmetic serum or cream (copper tripeptide-1) | Cosmetic ingredient in leave-on products; CIR-surveyed use typically under 10 ppm | Cosmetics law only: no FDA premarket approval, no drug claims allowed | In vitro collagen and keratinocyte work; one randomized human study of GHK-Cu products (post-laser) with null objective endpoints and positive satisfaction; no monotherapy wrinkle RCT | in-vitro plus one objective-null human-rct | source |
| Compounded non-injectable (pharmacy) | Compounded drug preparation using bulk GHK-Cu, non-injectable routes only | FDA 503A interim Category 1, under evaluation; removed Apr 22, 2026, restored May 5, 2026; PCAC consult announced before end of Feb 2027; not FDA approved | The 1994 industry-run diabetic ulcer RCT (98.5% vs 60.8% median closure) remains the tier's ceiling; no approval followed; a topical phase 2 wound trial is recruiting | human-rct (single, industry-run, 1994) | source |
| Injectable vial (research chemical) | Unapproved injectable peptide sold research use only | On FDA's compounding safety-risks page: immunogenicity and impurity concerns, limited human data; injectable nomination withdrawn | Rodent intraperitoneal and intra-articular studies plus one worm lifespan study; zero human trials, zero registered injectable studies, zero human PK; 2026 preprint found 41.6% to 71.1% of consumer vials failing quality criteria | animal only; absence-of-evidence in humans | source |