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Evidence matrix · Updated July 23, 2026

Compare the claim, not just the molecule.

One label cannot tell the whole story. This matrix separates patient outcomes from biomarkers, safety knowledge, product identity, and regulatory status.

How to read it

Four dimensions. No averaged score.

Strong

Multiple reliable sources characterize this dimension well.

Moderate

Useful human evidence exists, but scope or depth remains limited.

Limited

Evidence is too small, indirect, or incomplete for confident conclusions.

Unclear

Product identity, evidence, or reporting is not reliable enough to grade.

Focused view

Compare three reviewed contexts.

Choose distinct briefs. The complete matrix remains below.

Approved human outcomes

Semaglutide

A prescription peptide medicine with established uses, product-specific labels, and an important divide between approved and unapproved versions.

Human outcomes
StrongLarge controlled programs support specific approved indications.
Human pharmacology
StrongPharmacology and exposure are extensively characterized for approved products.
Safety knowledge
StrongApproved labels describe established risks, monitoring, and contraindications.
Product certainty
StrongHigh for an authentic approved product; not transferable to every compounded version.
Regulatory status
FDA-approved products exist for specific indications
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Investigational human outcomes

BPC-157

An investigational peptide with a sizable preclinical literature, early human work, and a large gap between biological signal and proven clinical effect.

Human outcomes
LimitedSmall uncontrolled pilots cannot establish a patient benefit.
Human pharmacology
LimitedHuman exposure and pharmacokinetic characterization remain sparse.
Safety knowledge
LimitedThe human safety dataset is too small for confident risk estimates.
Product certainty
UnclearNo validated approved formulation; identity and purity vary outside formal research.
Regulatory status
Investigational; no approved formulation
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Approved human outcomes

Tesamorelin

An approved GHRF analogue for a specific HIV-associated body-composition outcome, not a general weight-loss or anti-aging medicine.

Human outcomes
StrongPhase 3 trials support visceral-adipose-tissue reduction in the labeled HIV population.
Human pharmacology
StrongThe approved label characterizes IGF-1 response, exposure, and product-specific use.
Safety knowledge
StrongThe label describes neoplasm, glucose, fluid-retention, hypersensitivity, and other risks.
Product certainty
StrongHigh for authentic Egrifta SV; no automatic transfer to other formulations.
Regulatory status
An FDA-approved product exists for a narrow indication
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Current coverage

Evidence profile by peptide

Ratings describe the reviewed product context and claims. They are not treatment recommendations.

Scroll horizontally to inspect each reviewed context. Column headings link to the full evidence brief.

Evidence dimensionSemaglutideGLP-1 receptor agonistInsulinPeptide hormone · therapeutic protein familyTirzepatideGIP and GLP-1 receptor agonistBPC-157Synthetic pentadecapeptideCJC-1295Long-acting GHRH analogueIpamorelinGhrelin-receptor agonist · GH secretagogueLiraglutideGLP-1 receptor agonistRetatrutideGIP, GLP-1, and glucagon receptor agonistTesamorelinGrowth hormone-releasing factor analogueSermorelinGrowth hormone-releasing hormone analogueTB-500Synthetic thymosin beta-4 fragmentGHK-CuCopper-binding tripeptide complexMOTS-cMitochondria-derived peptideAOD-9604Modified growth-hormone fragmentEpitalonSynthetic tetrapeptideBremelanotideMelanocortin receptor agonistAfamelanotideMelanocortin-1 receptor agonistTeriparatideParathyroid hormone analogueAbaloparatideParathyroid hormone-related peptide analogueTeduglutideGlucagon-like peptide-2 analogue
Human outcomesDo people experience a meaningful benefit?Strong

Large controlled programs support specific approved indications.

Strong

Long-term randomized evidence supports monitored insulin strategies for defined diabetes populations.

Strong

Large randomized programs support defined glycemic and chronic weight-management outcomes.

Limited

Small uncontrolled pilots cannot establish a patient benefit.

Limited

Human studies measured hormone responses, not durable patient outcomes.

Limited

A phase 2 trial did not show significant benefit on its key efficacy endpoint.

Strong

Large randomized programs support defined glycemic, cardiovascular, and weight-management outcomes.

Moderate

A peer-reviewed phase 2 obesity trial and multiple sponsor-reported phase 3 topline readouts show substantial human outcome signals, while full confirmatory publication and regulatory review remain incomplete.

Strong

Phase 3 trials support visceral-adipose-tissue reduction in the labeled HIV population.

Limited

Older pediatric data exist, but evidence for current anti-aging or body-composition claims is not established.

Unclear

FDA found no adequate human clinical outcome evidence for compounded TB-500 wound-healing use.

Limited

Small formulation-specific human studies exist, but broad regenerative and anti-aging outcomes are not established.

Unclear

FDA's 2026 review found no published studies administering MOTS-c drug products to humans.

Limited

Older obesity studies exposed hundreds of participants, but the evidence did not establish an approved weight-loss use.

Unclear

FDA found no studies establishing insomnia outcomes for the nominated epitalon substances and route.

Moderate

Two phase 3 trials support modest changes in prespecified desire and distress endpoints for the labeled population.

Strong

Randomized trials support pain-free light-exposure and quality-of-life outcomes in adults with EPP.

Strong

Randomized evidence supports vertebral and nonvertebral fracture-risk reduction in defined osteoporosis populations.

Strong

The ACTIVE phase 3 trial supports fracture-risk reduction in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Strong

Randomized trials support reduction in parenteral-support requirements for short bowel syndrome.

Human pharmacologyDo exposure, mechanisms, or biomarkers behave as expected?Strong

Pharmacology and exposure are extensively characterized for approved products.

Strong

Product-specific onset, peak, duration, and exposure are extensively characterized.

Strong

Pharmacology and exposure are extensively characterized for approved products.

Limited

Human exposure and pharmacokinetic characterization remain sparse.

Moderate

Randomized studies show sustained GH and IGF-1 biomarker effects in healthy adults.

Moderate

Dose-escalation work characterizes short-lived GH release in healthy volunteers.

Strong

Approved labels characterize product-specific exposure, pharmacodynamics, and interactions.

Moderate

Human dose-response and adverse-event data exist, but the development program is not complete.

Strong

The approved label characterizes IGF-1 response, exposure, and product-specific use.

Moderate

Growth-hormone release after GHRH stimulation is biologically and clinically documented.

Limited

Fragment identity and laboratory findings do not establish a clinical benefit in people.

Limited

Copper binding and cell-level signaling are biologically plausible but not equivalent to clinical benefit.

Limited

Preclinical metabolic and mitochondrial signals are hypothesis-generating.

Limited

FDA found insufficient pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic information for proposed uses and routes.

Limited

Melatonin and cell-line findings are indirect and do not establish patient benefit.

Strong

Exposure and transient cardiovascular effects are characterized in the approved label.

Strong

The approved implant's pharmacology and melanocortin-1 activity are characterized.

Strong

Bone-turnover, exposure, and product-specific pharmacology are well characterized.

Strong

Approved labeling characterizes PTH1-receptor activity, exposure, and bone-turnover effects.

Strong

Intestinal absorption, exposure, and product effects are characterized in the label and trials.

Safety knowledgeHow well are risks characterized in people?Strong

Approved labels describe established risks, monitoring, and contraindications.

Strong

Labels and decades of clinical use characterize major risks, especially hypoglycemia.

Strong

Current product labels describe boxed warnings, contraindications, precautions, and adverse reactions.

Limited

The human safety dataset is too small for confident risk estimates.

Limited

Short studies exist, while FDA identifies serious adverse-event and impurity concerns.

Limited

Route-specific data are sparse and FDA identifies serious safety concerns.

Strong

Current labels describe contraindications, warnings, adverse reactions, and monitoring.

Limited

Phase 2 exposure cannot define the full safety profile, rare risks, or long-term benefit-risk balance.

Strong

The label describes neoplasm, glucose, fluid-retention, hypersensitivity, and other risks.

Limited

Historical product data do not fully characterize modern compounded products or long-term wellness use.

Unclear

Human exposure and product-specific safety information are inadequate.

Limited

Human information is limited, and FDA identifies injectable immunogenicity and impurity concerns.

Unclear

Human exposure, immunogenicity, long-term effects, and route-specific safety are unresolved.

Limited

Clinical safety reporting is incomplete, and FDA identifies immunogenicity and impurity concerns.

Unclear

Human product, route, exposure, impurity, and long-term safety data are inadequate.

Strong

The label describes blood-pressure effects, contraindications, nausea, pigmentation, and other risks.

Strong

The label and postauthorization monitoring characterize known risks and skin-monitoring requirements.

Strong

Labels describe hypercalcemia, orthostatic hypotension, osteosarcoma risk factors, and other precautions.

Strong

Known risks and monitoring are described in the current product label.

Strong

The label addresses neoplastic growth, obstruction, biliary and pancreatic disease, and fluid imbalance.

Product certaintyIs identity, formulation, and quality anchored?Strong

High for an authentic approved product; not transferable to every compounded version.

Strong

High for an authentic approved product; the exact product and formulation still matter.

Strong

High for an authentic approved product; not transferable to every compounded or counterfeit version.

Unclear

No validated approved formulation; identity and purity vary outside formal research.

Unclear

CJC-1295 with DAC, without DAC, salts, and combinations are often discussed imprecisely.

Unclear

No approved formulation anchors identity, purity, or equivalence in the consumer market.

Strong

High for authentic approved products; evidence does not transfer automatically to unapproved versions.

Limited

High for documented trial material; low for products marketed outside authorized research.

Strong

High for authentic Egrifta SV; no automatic transfer to other formulations.

Limited

Historical FDA records are clear; identity and quality of current compounded material are product-specific.

Unclear

Nomenclature, salt form, purity, sterility, and fragment-versus-protein distinctions create major uncertainty.

Unclear

Formulation and route strongly affect what evidence can be transferred.

Unclear

Substance naming does not establish purity, sterility, or product equivalence.

Unclear

Identity, route, formulation, sterility, and comparability of compounded products are uncertain.

Unclear

Evidence often mixes epitalon, epitalon acetate, and non-identical pineal preparations.

Strong

High for authentic Vyleesi; evidence does not automatically transfer to compounded PT-141.

Strong

High for authentic Scenesse; low for transfer to other melanocortin products.

Strong

High for authentic approved products used within the label.

Strong

High for authentic Tymlos used within the approved label.

Strong

High for authentic Gattex used within its monitoring program.

Regulatory statusHas a specific product been reviewed for a use?

FDA-approved products exist for specific indications

Multiple FDA-approved insulin products and biosimilars exist

FDA-approved products exist for specific indications

Investigational; no approved formulation

Investigational; no approved product identified

Investigational; no approved product identified

FDA-approved products exist for specific indications

Investigational in the United States; no FDA-approved retatrutide product

An FDA-approved product exists for a narrow indication

Former FDA-approved products are discontinued; FDA found the withdrawals were not for safety or effectiveness

No FDA-approved TB-500 drug product

No FDA-approved injectable GHK-Cu drug product

No FDA-approved MOTS-c drug product

No FDA-approved AOD-9604 drug product

No FDA-approved epitalon drug product

An FDA-approved product exists for a narrow indication

An FDA-approved implant exists for a rare-disease indication

FDA-approved products exist for specific osteoporosis populations

An FDA-approved product exists for defined osteoporosis populations

An FDA-approved product exists for short bowel syndrome

The useful tension

A molecule can be biologically active and clinically unproven.

CJC-1295 and ipamorelin demonstrate this well: measurable hormone responses exist in people, while popular body-composition and recovery claims remain unsupported by reliable clinical outcomes.

Learn to read the evidence