# What Are Peptides? Complete Guide | Philippines Peptides Source: https://www.philippinespeptides.com/beginner/understanding-peptides Updated: 2026-10-01 > What peptides are, how they act on receptors, the five working categories, and the evidence level and FDA Philippines status behind each class. On this page - [The basics](#basics) - [How peptides work](#mechanism) - [Peptide categories](#categories) - [What each is studied for](#goal-match) - [Registration in PH](#ph-context) - [Risks & disclaimer](#risk) - [Sources](#sources) - [Next steps](#next) # What Are Peptides? Philippines Peptides editorial desk Updated 1 October 2026 10 min read Short answer Peptides are short chains of amino acids, usually 2 to 50, that act on specific receptors in the body. As of 23 September 2026, a few are registered medicines in the Philippines, such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro). Most research peptides, including BPC-157 and TB-500, are not registered and rest mainly on animal evidence. **Reading** - ~ 8 min Related - [Can I take peptides?](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/beginner/can-i-take-peptides) - [Peptide Library](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides) - [Regulation hub](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/legal) Video guide: Peptides in the Philippines: A Beginner Guide (2:08) New to peptides in the Philippines? Here is the beginner guide, in plain terms. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that bind to receptors in the body. The guide sorts them into 5 working categories. Republic Act 9711 says a drug must be registered with FDA Philippines before it is imported, sold or distributed. The FDA portal lists semaglutide as Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide as Mounjaro, all prescription drugs. Prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician. A portal search on 23 September found no registered product for retatrutide, BPC-157, TB-500, ipamorelin or tesamorelin. Those are sold as research material. A research peptide comes as a powder in a sealed vial, not approved for human use. Bacteriostatic water is sterile water with 0.9% benzyl alcohol, a preservative. To judge a supplier, check 4 things: local stock, published batch reports, clear refund terms, and prices on the page, not DM for price. Our partner and supplier, Primara Labs, stocks in Metro Manila: same day if ordered by 12 noon on a weekday, and J&T to the provinces. Batch reports are published at primaralabs.com/coa as they are issued. Retatrutide batch RETA-4728-A was tested by Janoshik for bacterial endotoxin. There is a 60-day money-back guarantee: if an accredited independent laboratory reports the vial is not the compound on the label, Primara refunds what you paid. Every product page shows its price: a 15 mg semaglutide vial is ₱1,990. Every vial order includes bacteriostatic water, insulin syringes and alcohol pads. Read the full beginner guide on Philippines Peptides, then browse Primara Labs and order on WhatsApp. **Categories** - 05 **GLP-1 Class** - 03 peptides **Min Length** - 02 AAs **Max Length** - 50 AAs Definitions and scale ## The basics Peptides are molecules made up of 2 to 50 amino acids linked together in a chain. They are smaller than proteins, which are longer chains, but work in a similar way: they bind to receptors and trigger specific biological responses. The body produces many peptides of its own to regulate hunger, metabolism, sleep, tissue repair and hormone release. Synthetic peptides are made to copy or modify these natural signals. Some peptides act by prompting the body to release its own hormone rather than supplying the hormone directly. The growth hormone secretagogues are the clearest example: tesamorelin, CJC-1295 and ipamorelin act on the pituitary rather than replacing growth hormone. Our partner and supplier If you decide to source research peptides Research vials are not approved for human use, are sold for research only, and must be reconstituted. - Stocked in Metro Manila; same-day delivery there for orders before 12 noon - Lab report: Janoshik, batch RETA-4728-A, retatrutide, bacterial endotoxin only; not identity or purity. Key [H2KI86I8GWB4](https://verify.janoshik.com/tests/234146_H2KI86I8GWB4), [batch reports](https://www.primaralabs.com/coa?utm_source=philippinespeptides&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=bridge&utm_content=understanding-peptides) - [60-day money-back guarantee](https://www.primaralabs.com/guarantee?utm_source=philippinespeptides&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=bridge&utm_content=understanding-peptides) - GCash, Maya, QR Ph bank transfer, InstaPay Primara Labs is our partner and supplier. Receptors, cascades, targets ## How peptides work **Receptor binding** - Peptides bind to specific receptors on cell surfaces, like a key in a lock. Each peptide targets a particular receptor type. **Signaling cascades** - Once bound, the receptor triggers a cascade of signals inside the cell. GLP-1 receptor agonists, for example, act on receptors in the brain that regulate appetite and on the pancreas, where they increase insulin release when blood sugar is raised. **Evidence varies** - How much is known about a peptide depends on how it has been studied. The GLP-1 medicines have large phase 3 human trials behind them. Many research peptides rest mainly on animal and cell studies, which do not show what happens in people. Our partner and supplier lists research vials across several of the categories below, priced in pesos. They are research material, not registered medicines. [View the Primara Labs catalogue](https://www.primaralabs.com/marketplace?utm_source=philippinespeptides&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=inline&utm_content=understanding-peptides) The five working classes ## Peptide categories Most readers meet five practical categories. The GLP-1 class has the largest body of human trial data, so it comes first, with one representative phase 3 trial per compound and the adverse events reported in that same trial. Class 01 · GLP-1 receptor agonists | Peptide | Receptor profile | Evidence level | | --- | --- | --- | | [Retatrutide](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/retatrutide) | GLP-1, GIP, glucagon (3) | Phase 3 human | | [Tirzepatide](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/tirzepatide) | GLP-1, GIP (2) | Phase 3 human | | [Semaglutide](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/semaglutide) | GLP-1 (1) | Phase 3 human | Retatrutide · TRIUMPH-1 **Outcome.** In TRIUMPH-1, an 80-week phase 3 trial of 2,339 adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, without diabetes, body weight fell by 19%, 25.9% and 28.3% on the 4 mg, 9 mg and 12 mg arms, against 2.2% on placebo. **Side effects reported in TRIUMPH-1.** Discontinuation for adverse events: 4.1%, 6.9% and 11.3% on the 4, 9 and 12 mg arms, against 4.9% on placebo. Nausea: 28.6%, 38.4% and 42.4% on the 4, 9 and 12 mg arms, against 14.8% on placebo. Tirzepatide · SURMOUNT-1 **Outcome.** In SURMOUNT-1, a 72-week phase 3 trial of 2,539 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related complication, excluding diabetes, body weight fell by 15%, 19.5% and 20.9% on the 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg arms, against 3.1% on placebo. **Side effects reported in SURMOUNT-1.** Discontinuation for adverse events: 4.3%, 7.1% and 6.2% on the 5, 10 and 15 mg arms, against 2.6% on placebo. Semaglutide · STEP 5 **Outcome.** In STEP 5, a 104-week phase 3 trial of 304 adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity, without diabetes, body weight fell by 15.2% on the 2.4 mg arm, against 2.6% on placebo. **Side effects reported in STEP 5.** Discontinuation for adverse events: 5.9% on the 2.4 mg arm, against 4.6% on placebo. Nausea: 53.3% on the 2.4 mg arm, against 21.7% on placebo. The remaining four categories are listed below with the highest level of human evidence found for each compound. A compound marked Animal and cell has not been shown to do anything in people. Class 02 · Healing & Recovery - [BPC-157: Small human studies →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/bpc157) - [TB-500: Animal and cell →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/tb500) - [GHK-Cu: Small human studies →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/ghk-cu) - [KPV: Animal and cell →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/kpv) Class 03 · Growth Hormone - [CJC-1295: Small human studies →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/cjc1295-dac) - [Ipamorelin: Phase 2 human →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/ipamorelin) - [Tesamorelin: Phase 3 human →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/tesamorelin) Class 04 · Anti-Aging & Longevity - [Epitalon: Not in the evidence map →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/epitalon) - [NAD+: Small human studies →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/nad) - [MOTS-c: Animal and cell →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/mots-c) Class 05 · Nootropics & Mood - [Semax: Small human studies →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/semax) - [Selank: Small human studies →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/selank) - [DSIP: Small human studies →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/dsip) Class 06 · Cosmetic & Tanning - [SNAP-8: Not in the evidence map →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/snap8) - [Melanotan I: Not in the evidence map →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/melanotan-1) - [Melanotan II: Not in the evidence map →](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/melanotan-2) Evidence map, strongest first ## What each compound is studied for What research has looked at for each compound, with the highest level of human evidence found. A research topic is not a demonstrated benefit, and animal findings do not establish an effect in people. The screening guide comes before any of this: [Can I Take Peptides?](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/beginner/can-i-take-peptides) | Compound | Studied for | Evidence level | | --- | --- | --- | | [Bremelanotide](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/pt141) | Hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women; earlier, sexual arousal disorder and erectile dysfunction; body weight in a phase 1 study | Phase 3 human | | Elamipretide | Primary mitochondrial myopathy and Barth syndrome in people; mitochondrial injury after blocked blood flow in animals | Phase 3 human | | [Retatrutide](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/retatrutide) | obesity and overweight with a weight-related condition, type 2 diabetes, knee osteoarthritis pain, obstructive sleep apnoea, chronic low back pain, cardiovascular and renal outcomes, and fatty liver disease (MASLD) | Phase 3 human | | [Semaglutide](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/semaglutide) | Obesity and overweight, obesity with type 2 diabetes, maintenance of weight reduction, and cardiovascular outcomes in people with cardiovascular disease | Phase 3 human | | [Tesamorelin](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/tesamorelin) | Excess visceral fat in people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy, fatty liver disease in HIV, abdominal obesity with reduced growth hormone secretion, and cognition in older adults | Phase 3 human | | [Tirzepatide](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/tirzepatide) | Obesity and overweight, obesity with type 2 diabetes, maintenance of weight reduction, and comparison with semaglutide | Phase 3 human | | [Ipamorelin](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/ipamorelin) | Recovery of gut function after bowel surgery (phase 2); growth hormone release in healthy men; growth hormone release, bone growth and gut motility in animals | Phase 2 human | | [BPC-157](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/bpc157) | Tendon, ligament and muscle healing and gastrointestinal injury in rats; interstitial cystitis and knee pain in small uncontrolled human reports | Small human studies | | [CJC-1295](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/cjc1295-dac) | Growth hormone and IGF-1 secretion in healthy adults; HIV-associated visceral obesity (phase 2, terminated) | Small human studies | | [DSIP](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/dsip) | Chronic insomnia and sleep, withdrawal states (uncontrolled), pituitary hormones, and as an adjunct to anaesthesia | Small human studies | | [GHK-Cu](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/ghk-cu) | Diabetic foot ulcers and skin after laser resurfacing (small topical trials); cosmetic skin use; ligament and wound healing in animals; fibroblast growth in cell culture | Small human studies | | [NAD+](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/nad) | Ischaemic heart failure (intravenous); blood NAD levels in healthy adults (oral and intravenous); heart and brain injury after blocked blood flow in animals | Small human studies | | [Selank](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/selank) | Generalised anxiety disorder and neurasthenia; anxiety-spectrum disorders alongside a benzodiazepine | Small human studies | | [Semax](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/semax) | Stroke and post-stroke rehabilitation, cerebrovascular insufficiency, optic nerve disease, motor neuron disease | Small human studies | | [KPV](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/kpv) | Colitis and colitis-associated tumours, peritoneal inflammation and oral mucositis in mice and rats; inflammatory signalling in cell culture | Animal and cell | | [MOTS-c](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/mots-c) | Insulin resistance, diet-induced obesity, age-related physical decline and autoimmune diabetes in mice; circulating levels as a biomarker in people | Animal and cell | | [TB-500](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides/tb500) | Wound, corneal and tendon healing in animals (fragment and full-length protein); dry eye, corneal healing and skin ulcers in humans (full-length thymosin beta-4 only) | Animal and cell | Which classes are registered medicines ## Registration in the Philippines Receptor biology does not change between countries. What changes in the Philippines is which compounds are registered medicines. Under RA 9711 a drug must be registered with FDA Philippines before it is imported, sold or distributed; the [status page](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/legal/status) records what the register shows for each compound. In Class 01, the FDA Philippines Verification Portal lists semaglutide as Ozempic and Wegovy and tirzepatide as Mounjaro, each classified as a prescription drug, and prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician. Retatrutide is investigational: a search of the same portal on 23 September 2026 returned no registered drug product for it, or for BPC-157, TB-500, ipamorelin or tesamorelin. The compounds in Classes 02 to 05 that this site covers are sold as research material, not as registered medicines. The [regulation hub](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/legal) sets out the law on registration, prescription and import with its primary sources. What this primer is not ## Risks & disclaimer Caution Foundational references ## Sources - Human trial results and adverse events in Class 01 are read from the trials dataset published by our partner and supplier at [primaralabs.com/research/trials](https://www.primaralabs.com/research/trials?utm_source=philippinespeptides&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=inline&utm_content=understanding-peptides), each row linked to its primary source above. Evidence levels and research topics come from its [evidence map](https://www.primaralabs.com/research/evidence?utm_source=philippinespeptides&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=inline&utm_content=understanding-peptides). - Jastreboff AM et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1). NEJM 2022;387:205-216. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038 · PubMed: 35658024 - Jastreboff AM et al. Triple-hormone-receptor agonist retatrutide for obesity: a phase 2 trial. NEJM 2023;389:514-526. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2301972 · PubMed: 37366315 - Sikiric P et al. Stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157: novel therapy in gastrointestinal tract. Curr Pharm Des 2011;17(16):1612-32. PubMed: 21548867 (mechanism review for BPC-157, drawn from animal and cell studies). - FDA Philippines Verification Portal. [verification.fda.gov.ph](https://verification.fda.gov.ph/): the register used for the Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro registrations and the absence of a record for the research compounds named above. Continue the series ## Next steps Our partner and supplier ### What each of these categories looks like in stock Primara Labs, our partner and supplier, lists research vials across the GLP-1, healing and anti-aging categories described on this page, priced in pesos. They are research material, not registered medicines. Delivery is same day for Metro Manila orders placed before 12 noon and 1 to 5 business days elsewhere, and every order gets 10% off. Primara Labs, our partner and supplier, stocks its research catalogue in Metro Manila. Research use only. Related reading - [Beginner Can I take peptides? 3 min read](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/beginner/can-i-take-peptides) - [Reference Peptide Library 7 min read](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/peptides) - [Legal Regulation hub 4 min read](https://www.philippinespeptides.com/legal) --- Philippines Peptides sells nothing. Primara Labs is our partner and supplier. This is general information, not medical or legal advice.