GHK-Cu: research, legal status and who sells it

What it is

GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) is a tripeptide present in human plasma, saliva and urine whose levels decline with age; it binds copper, and the copper complex is known as GHK-Cu [10].

Research status

Cell and animal studies report that GHK stimulates collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, supports wound healing and changes the expression of thousands of genes [10][11]. GHK-Cu is widely used in anti-wrinkle cosmetics, yet a 2025 review found “a surprising absence of clinical studies” of these products and limited published data on how well the peptide penetrates skin [12]. A 2026 orthopedic primer found no clinical data supporting GHK-Cu for musculoskeletal conditions [13]. For injected GHK-Cu, FDA says there are limited human data to inform safety [3].

Regulatory status

GHK-Cu is not an FDA-approved drug [1]. For pharmacy compounding, FDA keeps non-injectable GHK-Cu in Category 1 (under evaluation), while the nomination for injectable GHK-Cu was withdrawn after FDA flagged immunogenicity risk [2][3]. FDA plans to consult its compounding advisory committee on GHK-Cu before the end of February 2027 [14]. No GHK-Cu medicine is authorized in the UK, the EU or Canada [4][5][7]. Australia’s Poisons Standard does not name GHK-Cu but lists copper compounds for human use in Schedule 4, except low-strength preparations [8].

Quality and testing considerations

FDA’s concern with injectable GHK-Cu is aggregation and peptide-related impurities that could trigger immune reactions [3]. Because the product is a peptide–copper complex, a meaningful certificate of analysis should report the peptide’s identity and purity and the copper content of the batch, not purity alone.

Where it’s sold

GHK-Cu is sold as a cosmetic ingredient and, by research-chemical vendors, in vials; the tables below track vendor listings.