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Skin and hair · Compound
GHK-Cu
Copper-binding tripeptide (glycine, histidine, lysine) found in human plasma, studied in small topical human trials for skin and wound healing and in animal and cell work.
Philippines Peptides editorial deskUpdated Trial data checked 23 September 20269 min read5 sources
The strongest evidence found for GHK-Cu comes from small human studies, and every finding below carries its evidence level.
What is GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu is the tripeptide glycine-histidine-lysine (GHK) bound to copper. GHK occurs naturally in human plasma, saliva and urine, and it binds copper. Browse the full peptide library for related compounds.
The human evidence for GHK-Cu is small and topical only. Two small randomised trials of topical GHK-Cu were identified: a 1994 diabetic foot ulcer trial whose size and phase the abstract does not give, and a 13-patient trial after laser resurfacing that found no objective benefit. GHK-Cu has also been studied as a cosmetic skin ingredient, while its effects on ligament and wound healing come from animal studies and its effects on fibroblast growth from cell culture.
How it works
Collagen synthesis: in fibroblast cell cultures, the GHK-copper complex stimulated collagen synthesis (Maquart et al., FEBS Lett 1988).
Tissue remodelling: in cell and animal studies, GHK stimulates both the production and the breakdown of collagen and related skin matrix molecules, and adjusts the enzymes that remodel tissue.
Fibroblast growth: in cell culture, GHK-Cu shortened the doubling time of normal and irradiated human skin fibroblasts and raised their early output of growth factors.
Gene expression: a 2018 review by Pickart and Margolina interprets gene-expression data for GHK. That data comes from laboratory work, not from measured effects in treated people.
Benefits studied
Diabetic foot ulcer closure
Small human studies
A randomised, evaluator-blinded trial of a topical GHK-Cu gel on diabetic foot ulcers reported median closure of 98.5% against 60.8% with an inactive gel; the abstract gives neither the trial's size nor its phase. Source: Wound Repair Regen 1994
Skin after laser resurfacing (no measured benefit)
Small human studies
In 13 randomised patients recovering from laser skin resurfacing, GHK-Cu skin care made no measurable difference to redness, wrinkles or blinded ratings, although patients rated their own skin higher. Source: Arch Facial Plast Surg 2006
Ligament graft healing
Animal and cell
In an animal study of knee ligament reconstruction in rats, GHK-Cu reduced knee laxity at 6 weeks, but the difference was gone by 12 weeks. Source: J Orthop Res 2015
Fibroblast growth
Animal and cell
In cell culture, GHK-Cu shortened the doubling time of normal and irradiated human skin fibroblasts and raised their early growth-factor output. This is cell evidence only. Source: Arch Facial Plast Surg 2005
Side effects reported
No human trial in the datasets reports adverse-event rates for GHK-Cu, whose human evidence is limited to small human studies (2 completed randomised trials identified). Without controlled data, its safety in people is unknown rather than established.
GHK-Cu in the Philippines
GHK-Cu comes in two quite different forms: as copper tripeptide-1, a cosmetic skin ingredient, and as a research-grade injectable vial. The two should not be confused. This site has not published an FDA Philippines registration result for GHK-Cu: the 23 September 2026 portal search behind the regulation hub did not include the name, and the store's own search the same day timed out. No FDA Philippines advisory in this site's regulation dataset, checked 23 September 2026, names GHK-Cu.
On the vial side, Primara Labs, our partner and supplier, lists GHK-Cu as "Lyophilized powder, 50 mg / vial", and it is one of the components of the store's GLOW Blend and KLOW Blend. The legal research behind this site found no Philippine FDA, DOH, BOC or DDB document that addresses products labelled research use only. The GHK-Cu buying guide covers storage in Philippine humidity and what to check on a vial.
In the United States, the FDA lists GHK-Cu on its page of bulk drug substances for compounding that may present significant safety risks (current as of 22 April 2026); that page concerns compounding, not approval.
For research context, the form matters here too. The evidence dataset found 2 randomised human trials of GHK-Cu, and both were topical: a diabetic foot ulcer trial and a small trial after laser resurfacing that found no objective benefit. Neither gave GHK-Cu by injection, so no human trial in the dataset tested the vial format. The ligament and wound findings are from animals and the fibroblast findings from cell culture.
Regulatory status
FDA Philippines
Not publishedCould not be established: the FDA Philippines verification portal search timed out on 23 September 2026, retried the same day in a browser with the same result.
US FDA
No record foundDrugs@FDA returned no approved or tentatively approved application for this substance. Drugs@FDA does not list investigational products. Separately, the FDA lists it on its page of bulk drug substances for compounding that may present significant safety risks (current as of 22 April 2026); that page concerns compounding, not approval.
European Medicines Agency
No record foundNo row for this substance in the EMA medicines report generated 22 September 2026. That report does not cover national authorisations in EU member states.
How Philippine registration and prescription rules work, and what an unregistered product is under the law, is covered in the regulation hub, and every compound's status side by side is on the status page. This is general information, not legal advice.
Who should not use GHK-Cu
Everything above is research framing. For the material itself, our partner and supplier lists GHK-Cu 50mg at Primara Labs for ₱1,325 (₱1,190 with 10% off), from stock inside the Philippines.
FAQ
Is the GHK-Cu in human trials the same as a GHK-Cu vial?
Not in how it was given. Two small randomised trials of topical GHK-Cu: a 1994 diabetic ulcer trial whose size and phase the abstract does not give, and a 13-patient trial after laser resurfacing with no objective benefit. Both trials applied GHK-Cu to the skin. Primara Labs, our partner and supplier, lists GHK-Cu as "Lyophilized powder, 50 mg / vial", a format no human trial in the dataset used.
Is GHK-Cu on a US FDA safety list?
In the United States, the FDA lists GHK-Cu on its page of bulk drug substances for compounding that may present significant safety risks (current as of 22 April 2026); that page concerns compounding, not approval.
Has FDA Philippines issued an advisory on GHK-Cu?
No FDA Philippines advisory in this site's regulation dataset, checked 23 September 2026, names GHK-Cu. On bringing a GHK-Cu vial in from abroad, the general rules apply. DOH-FDA-BOC Joint Circular No. 1, dated 22 June 2015, lets travellers bring listed FDA-regulated products into the Philippines without prior FDA clearance if the products are for personal use and within set limits. For prescription drugs, Joint Circular No. 1 sets the allowed quantity as the amount stated on a prescription that carries the physician's PRC licence number or a foreign equivalent. Joint Circular No. 1 does not say whether its prescription-drug allowance covers drugs without a Philippine CPR. No FDA circular that answers this was found. The Bureau of Customs lists pharmaceutical products as regulated imports that require a valid Certificate of Product Registration and/or an FDA License to Operate as importer. This is general information, not legal advice.
What evidence exists for GHK-Cu?
The evidence for GHK-Cu is rated small human studies. Two completed human randomised trials were identified in Europe PMC, and both were topical: one on diabetic foot ulcers and one on skin after laser resurfacing. Findings on ligament and wound healing come from animal studies, and findings on fibroblast growth from cell culture.
Has GHK-Cu been tested on wounds in people?
In one small trial. In a randomised, evaluator-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of a GHK-Cu gel on diabetic foot ulcers, median ulcer closure was 98.5% with the gel against 60.8% with the inactive gel; the abstract does not state the trial's size or phase.
Has GHK-Cu been studied for hair loss?
Not in a human trial among the sources on this page or in the evidence dataset. A 1993 paper by Uno and Kurata on chemical agents and peptides that affect hair growth includes GHK-Cu in its discussion of hair follicle stimulation; it is not a human trial.
Is GHK-Cu registered with FDA Philippines?
Its FDA Philippines status could not be established: the FDA Philippines verification portal search timed out on 23 September 2026, and a same-day retry in a browser gave the same result. In the US, Drugs@FDA returned no approved or tentatively approved application for it, and the European Medicines Agency medicines report has no row for it. See regulatory status by compound.
Where to get GHK-Cu in the Philippines
Readers who want the 90 days mapped out before they order start with the Longevity Manila protocol planner, which sets one goal, sequences the compounds behind it, and hands the list to our partner and supplier, Primara Labs.
The supply index covers what to ask a seller before paying, and why quoted prices vary so widely.
Citations supporting the clinical claims on this page. Each entry links to the primary record.
All 5 sources: Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018., Pickart L. The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed. 2008., Maquart FX, et al. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Lett. 1988. and more
1.
Pickart L, Margolina A. Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide in the Light of the New Gene Data. Int J Mol Sci. 2018.Review
Maquart FX, et al. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Lett. 1988.Mechanism
This page is editorial information for adults researching peptide therapy. It is not medical advice, not a prescription, and not an endorsement of any specific product, supplier, or protocol. Side effects can be serious and individual response varies. Talk to a licensed physician (ideally one with peptide-specific clinical experience) before starting any compound, adjusting a dose, or discontinuing therapy.
In the Philippines, GLP-1 medications are prescription-only under FDA Philippines regulation. Research-grade peptides occupy a regulatory gray area: import for personal research use is generally tolerated, but the Bureau of Customs reserves the right to inspect and detain shipments. Do not import for resale.
