Peptides

List of Peptides: Common Types Explained

Medically reviewed by Medical Advisory Board Last reviewed 2026-06-26

An educational catalog of the most commonly discussed peptides, grouped by category — with a plain-language description and research status for each.

A reference list of the most common peptides people research, organized by category: healing and tissue-repair peptides, growth hormone secretagogues, metabolic and weight-loss peptides, and cognitive and longevity compounds. Each entry notes whether it is FDA-approved or remains an unapproved research peptide.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult a physician for medical guidance.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the same building blocks that make up proteins, just in much smaller sequences. Your body makes thousands of them naturally, and they act as signaling molecules: telling cells to grow, repair, release hormones, or change metabolism. The peptides people research and discuss online are lab-made versions of these signals, designed to mimic or amplify a specific biological effect.

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This page is a catalog, not a recommendation. It groups the most commonly discussed peptides by what they are studied for, and gives each a one-line description plus its research status. That status is the single most important column to read. A small number of peptides — chiefly the GLP-1 receptor agonists used for diabetes and weight loss — are FDA-approved prescription medications backed by large human trials. The vast majority of the others are research peptides: compounds sold as "research chemicals," not approved for human therapeutic use, supported mostly by cell and animal studies rather than controlled human data, with no guarantee of purity or potency.

For background on what this category is and how to think about it, see our peptides overview, our explainer on GLP-1 vs peptides, and the question of whether peptides are legal. Where a peptide below has its own detailed page, the name links to it.

Healing & Tissue Repair Peptides

These are among the most searched research peptides, studied in preclinical models for connective-tissue, muscle, and wound healing. None is FDA-approved for human therapeutic use.

Peptide	One-line description	Research status
BPC-157	A synthetic fragment derived from a stomach protein, studied in animals for tendon, ligament, and gut-lining repair.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved
TB-500 (Thymosin Beta-4)	A synthetic version of a naturally occurring repair protein, studied for tissue regeneration and cell migration.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved

Growth Hormone Peptides (GHRH & GHRP)

These "growth hormone secretagogues" are studied for their ability to prompt the body to release its own growth hormone. They fall into two families. GHRH analogs mimic growth-hormone-releasing hormone; GHRPs (growth-hormone-releasing peptides, also called ghrelin mimetics) act through a different receptor. For how the two compare, see GHRH vs GHRP.

GHRH analogs:

Peptide	One-line description	Research status
Sermorelin	A shortened GHRH analog studied for stimulating natural growth hormone release.	FDA-approved historically (Geref); discontinued from market — now compounded
CJC-1295	A longer-acting GHRH analog, often discussed alongside ipamorelin.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved
Tesamorelin	A GHRH analog that is FDA-approved specifically to reduce excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.	FDA-approved for one narrow indication

GHRPs / ghrelin mimetics:

Peptide	One-line description	Research status
Ipamorelin	A selective GHRP studied for prompting growth hormone release with a relatively targeted profile.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved
GHRP-2	A growth-hormone-releasing peptide studied for its secretagogue effect; compared with GHRP-6 in our GHRP-2 vs GHRP-6 explainer.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved
GHRP-6	An earlier GHRP, noted in research for a strong appetite-stimulating signal.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved
Hexarelin	A potent GHRP studied for growth hormone release, structurally related to the GHRP family.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved

Metabolic & Weight-Loss Peptides

This category spans the regulatory line more than any other. The GLP-1 receptor agonists are themselves peptides — and they are FDA-approved medicines — while others remain research compounds.

Peptide	One-line description	Research status
Semaglutide (GLP-1 agonist)	A GLP-1 receptor agonist that mimics a gut hormone to reduce appetite and blood sugar.	FDA-approved prescription medication
Tirzepatide (GLP-1/GIP agonist)	A dual GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist used for blood sugar and weight management.	FDA-approved prescription medication
Tesamorelin	The GHRH analog above, also relevant here for its FDA-approved use in reducing excess abdominal fat in HIV-associated lipodystrophy.	FDA-approved for one narrow indication
AOD-9604	A fragment of the growth hormone molecule studied in connection with fat metabolism.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved for weight loss

For more on this group, see our pages on peptides for weight loss and tesamorelin vs tirzepatide.

Cognitive & Longevity Peptides

This grouping covers peptides discussed for cognition or focus, plus compounds associated with aging research. All are research compounds, not approved therapies — and one entry is not technically a peptide at all.

Cognitive / nootropic:

Compound	One-line description	Research status
Semax	A short peptide developed in Russia and studied for cognitive and neuroprotective effects.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved
Selank	A synthetic peptide studied for anti-anxiety and cognitive effects.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved

Longevity:

Compound	One-line description	Research status
Epithalon	A short peptide studied in aging research, often discussed in connection with telomeres.	Research peptide — not FDA-approved
NAD+	A coenzyme central to cellular energy metabolism, popular in longevity discussions. Note: NAD+ is technically a coenzyme, not a peptide — it is included because it is so often grouped with these compounds. See is NAD+ a peptide?	Not a peptide (coenzyme); not an FDA-approved anti-aging therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common peptides?

The most commonly discussed peptides include the healing peptides BPC-157 and TB-500; the growth hormone secretagogues sermorelin, CJC-1295, ipamorelin, and the GHRP series; the metabolic peptides semaglutide and tirzepatide (both FDA-approved GLP-1 medications); and cognitive or longevity compounds such as Semax, Selank, and Epithalon. Of these, only the GLP-1 agonists and tesamorelin are FDA-approved; the rest are unapproved research peptides.

Which peptides are FDA-approved?

Among the peptides on this list, the GLP-1 receptor agonists semaglutide and tirzepatide are FDA-approved prescription medications, and tesamorelin is FDA-approved for one narrow indication (HIV-associated lipodystrophy). The healing, growth-hormone, nootropic, and longevity peptides such as BPC-157, TB-500, ipamorelin, Semax, and Epithalon are not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use.

What are the different types of peptides?

Commonly discussed peptides fall into broad categories: healing and tissue-repair peptides (BPC-157, TB-500), growth hormone secretagogues split into GHRH analogs (sermorelin, CJC-1295, tesamorelin) and GHRPs or ghrelin mimetics (ipamorelin, GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin), metabolic and weight-loss peptides (the GLP-1 agonists, AOD-9604), and cognitive or longevity compounds (Semax, Selank, Epithalon).

Is NAD+ a peptide?

No. NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme involved in cellular energy metabolism, not a peptide — it is not built from amino acid chains. It appears on many peptide lists because it is popular in the same longevity conversations, but chemically it belongs to a different class.

Are research peptides safe to use?

"Research peptide" status means a compound is not FDA-approved for human therapeutic use, is sold as a research chemical without quality guarantees, and is supported mostly by preclinical rather than controlled human data. Being a peptide says nothing about safety. Any decision involving these compounds belongs in a conversation with a qualified physician who knows your medical history.

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Medical Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

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