Comparison
GHK-Cu vs TB-500
Side-by-side of GHK-Cu and TB-500. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
GHK-Cu
GHK-Cu peptide (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper) is a topical copper peptide. Trials show fine-line and wound-healing gains; injectable longevity claims rem.
TB-500
TB-500 peptide, a 17-aa thymosin beta-4 fragment. Preclinical tendon and wound healing via actin sequestration. Typical dosage 2 to 5 mg weekly. No human RCTs.
Effects at a glance
GHK-Cu
- •Endogenous tripeptide that binds copper(II); plasma levels decline ~60% from age 20 to 60
- •Topical RCTs show improvement in skin firmness, fine lines, and barrier function over 12 weeks
- •Wound-healing models report accelerated re-epithelialization in diabetic and aged skin
- •Pickart gene-expression analyses show reset of >4000 genes toward a younger expression profile in cell culture
- •Anecdotal subcutaneous longevity protocols use 1 to 3 mg daily; no human longevity RCTs exist
- •Hair-growth claims rest on small open-label trials and topical scalp formulations
TB-500
- •17-amino-acid fragment of endogenous Thymosin Beta-4, an actin-sequestering peptide
- •Preclinical models show accelerated tendon, ligament, and dermal wound healing
- •Equine veterinary use for soft-tissue injury is the most documented real-world application
- •Anecdotal human protocols use 2 to 5 mg twice weekly subcutaneously for 4 to 6 weeks
- •WADA banned under S2 (peptide hormones, growth factors) since 2018
- •No completed phase II or III human RCTs as of 2026; long-term safety unestablished
Side-by-side
| Attribute | GHK-Cu | TB-500 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | peptide | peptide |
| Also known as | Copper Peptide, Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper, GHK | Thymosin Beta-4 fragment, TB4-Frag, Thymosin Beta 4 |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 0.5 | 2 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 2 | 2.5 |
| Dosing frequency | daily | 2x weekly (anecdotal protocols) |
| Routes | topical, subcutaneous | subcutaneous, intramuscular |
| Onset (hr) | 24 | - |
| Peak (hr) | 168 | - |
| Molecular weight | 340.85 | 4963.4 |
| Molecular formula | C14H24N6O4 (GHK alone); C14H22CuN6O4 with Cu(II) | C212H350N56O78S |
| Mechanism | Tripeptide that chelates Cu(II) and delivers it to copper-dependent enzymes (lysyl oxidase, superoxide dismutase). Modulates expression of >4000 genes toward a younger profile in fibroblast culture, including upregulation of decorin and downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines. | Sequesters G-actin monomers, modulates cell migration and angiogenesis, and upregulates VEGF and myosin transcription. Promotes endothelial differentiation and stem-cell migration to injury sites in preclinical models. |
| Legal status | Topical cosmetics legal in most jurisdictions; injectable form not FDA approved for any indication; research-use-only grey market | Not FDA approved; research-use-only grey market; banned by WADA |
| WADA status | allowed | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Topical OTC (cosmetic); injectable not FDA approved; research-chemical status | Not FDA approved; not scheduled; research-chemical status |
| Pregnancy | Insufficient data; topical use likely low-risk; injectable not recommended | Insufficient data |
| CAS | 49557-75-7 | 885340-08-9 |
| PubChem CID | 73587 | 62707662 |
| Wikidata | Q3104638 | Q7799921 |
Safety profile
GHK-Cu
Common side effects
- mild erythema at topical site
- transient itch
- blue-green discoloration of injection site (copper)
- rare contact dermatitis
Contraindications
- copper allergy
- Wilson disease
- open wound near injection site (caution)
- pregnancy (no data)
Interactions
- topical retinoids: additive irritation; alternate days or apply at different times(minor)
- topical vitamin C (ascorbic acid): ascorbate reduces Cu(II) to Cu(I), which can destabilize the GHK-Cu complex; separate by 30 minutes(minor)
TB-500
Common side effects
- injection-site irritation
- fatigue (anecdotal)
- lethargy in early dosing (anecdotal)
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active malignancy (theoretical angiogenic concern)
- no established human safety profile
Interactions
- BPC-157: Frequently co-administered in anecdotal healing protocols; no controlled interaction data(minor)
Which Should You Take?
GHK-Cu comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 4 catalogued goals, research-only / gray-market sourcing, with a Tier-B outcome catalogued. TB-500 is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is skin health, pick GHK-Cu.
- → If your priority is hair growth, pick GHK-Cu.
- → If your priority is post-training recovery, pick TB-500.
- → If your priority is tendon repair, pick TB-500.
Edge case: Half-lives differ materially (GHK-Cu ~0.5 hr vs TB-500 ~2 hr). TB-500 reaches steady state faster; GHK-Cu is easier to dial in if tolerability is uncertain.
Default choice: GHK-Cu. Wider use case, and broader goal coverage. Reach for TB-500 only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between GHK-Cu and TB-500?
GHK-Cu and TB-500 differ in category (peptide vs peptide), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, GHK-Cu or TB-500?
GHK-Cu half-life is 0.5 hours; TB-500 half-life is 2 hours.
Can you stack GHK-Cu with TB-500?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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