Research Reference Guide
Research use only. All peptides sold by Alpha Peps are intended exclusively for laboratory and scientific research. Not approved by the FDA for human or animal consumption, therapeutic use, or diagnostic application. Nothing on this page constitutes medical advice.
FOUNDATIONS
What Are Research Peptides?
Research peptides are synthetic amino acid chains produced for use in controlled laboratory settings. They are studied for their interactions with specific biological receptors, enzymes, and signaling pathways — providing researchers with precise, reproducible tools for investigating mechanisms that would otherwise require endogenous hormones or complex biological extracts.
The burden of quality assurance falls entirely on the supplier. The critical variables to verify before ordering: purity (HPLC chromatography), identity (mass spectrometry), and documentation (a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis from an independent third-party laboratory).
Alpha Peps supplies all peptides at 99%+ HPLC-verified purity with a third-party COA included with every order.
Purity Testing
HPLC Analysis
High-Performance Liquid Chromatography separates and quantifies peptide components. A result of 99%+ means less than 1% of the sample is anything other than the target compound — the baseline minimum for research-grade material.
Identity Confirmation
Mass Spectrometry
Mass spec confirms the molecular weight matches the theoretical weight of the target peptide sequence. HPLC tells you how pure it is — mass spec tells you what it actually is. Both are required for a complete quality picture.
Documentation
Certificate of Analysis (COA)
A batch-specific COA from an independent third-party laboratory documents purity, mass spec confirmation, and testing date for your specific lot. Generic or undated COAs are not acceptable for serious research.
Storage Format
Lyophilized Powder
All Alpha Peps peptides ship as lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder — stable at room temperature for transit, maximum shelf life stored at -20°C. Reconstitution with bacteriostatic water required prior to use.
RESEARCH CLUSTER 01
Growth Hormone Axis & Metabolic Research
Peptides working on the hypothalamic-pituitary GH axis — GHRH receptor agonists (Sermorelin, CJC-1295, Tesamorelin), ghrelin receptor agonists (Ipamorelin), and downstream metabolic modulators (AOD-9604, GLP-3). Several have completed human clinical trials, making this cluster the most evidentially grounded in the catalog.
Sermorelin · GHRH 1-29
The GHRH Analog With an FDA History
FDA-approved pharmaceutical history. Most human clinical data of any GHRH analog in the research catalog.
Read Overview →CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin · Dual Pathway
The Dual-Pathway GH Research Stack
CJC-1295 activates the GHRH receptor. Ipamorelin suppresses somatostatin. Together they produce a larger GH pulse than either alone.
Read Overview →Tesamorelin · GHRH Analog
Tesamorelin in GH Pathways & Metabolism
Active FDA approval (Egrifta). Studied for metabolic effects on lipid distribution and endocrine function.
Read Overview →AOD-9604 · GH Fragment 176-191
Research Overview: GH Fragment 176-191
Isolates the lipolytic region of human GH. 6 completed RCTs across 900+ participants. No IGF-1 elevation.
Read Overview →GLP-3 / Retatrutide · Triple Agonist
How Retatrutide Is Shaping Metabolic Research
Next-generation triple receptor agonist. Among the most active areas of current metabolic peptide research globally.
Read Overview →RESEARCH CLUSTER 02
Tissue Repair & Regenerative Biology
The deepest preclinical literature in the catalog. BPC-157 alone has accumulated over 100 published studies across tissue types. GHK-Cu is one of the few research peptides with both 50 years of preclinical data and published human clinical findings in wound healing and dermal biology.
BPC-157 · Pentadecapeptide
What 30 Years of Research Has Found
100+ preclinical studies across tendons, ligaments, muscle, GI tissue, and nervous system. Primary mechanism: VEGFR2.
Read Overview →TB-500 · Thymosin Beta-4 Fragment
The Synthetic Analog of Thymosin Beta-4
Studied for cellular migration, actin polymerization, and inflammatory signaling in regenerative models.
Read Overview →GHK-Cu · Copper Tripeptide
What the Research Shows About GHK-Cu
50 years of published research. Human clinical data in wound healing and skin collagen contexts.
Read Overview →BPC Wolverine · BPC-157 + TB-500
The BPC-157 and TB-500 Research Stack
BPC-157 targets angiogenesis via VEGFR2. TB-500 targets actin dynamics. Studied together for complementary pathway effects.
Read Overview →BPC-157 & TB-500 Blend · Dropper
Dual-Peptide Synergy in Tissue Repair
Science behind Alpha Peps’ research dropper blend — angiogenesis, wound healing, mechanistic rationale.
Read Overview →RESEARCH CLUSTER 05
Peptide Science & Industry
Deeper mechanistic and structural research — GLP-1 receptor agonist mechanisms in metabolic disease, ribosomal incorporation of noncanonical amino acids, and the current research peptide supplier landscape.
Industry · Supplier Landscape
Peptide Sciences Shut Down: What Researchers Need to Know
What happened and where to source research-grade peptides now.
Read Overview →GLP-1 · Metabolic Disease
How Exenatide Targets Insulin Resistance in T2D
Mechanistic review of GLP-1 receptor agonists modulating insulin resistance and inflammatory pathways in type 2 diabetes.
Read Overview →Synthetic Biology · tRNA Engineering
How Engineered tRNAs Expand Peptide Therapeutics
How engineered transfer RNAs enable ribosomal synthesis of compounds beyond the standard 20 amino acid alphabet.
Read Overview →REGULATORY CONTEXT · 2026
Regulatory Status: What Researchers Need to Know
The regulatory landscape shifted significantly in 2025 when the FDA moved several compounds — including BPC-157 and CJC-1295/Ipamorelin — to Category 2 bulk drug substance status, restricting compounded pharmaceutical use. Regardless of compounding status, these compounds remain available as research chemicals for non-clinical laboratory use.
| Compound | Research Status | Regulatory History |
|---|---|---|
| Sermorelin | ● Available | FDA-approved (Geref/Gerel), discontinued 2008. Largest human data set of any GHRH analog. |
| Tesamorelin | ● Available | Currently FDA-approved (Egrifta). Research chemical use is separate and unrestricted. |
| AOD-9604 | ● Available | Phase IIb discontinued 2007. FDA GRAS status for oral use. Research use unrestricted. |
| BPC-157 | ● Available | FDA Category 2 (2025) — restricts compounding only. Research chemical status unaffected. |
| CJC-1295 / Ipamorelin | ● Available | Category 2 bulk drug substance. Research chemical status unaffected. |
| TB-500 / GHK-Cu / DSIP / GLP-3 | ● Available | No specific FDA regulatory action. Available without compounding restriction. |
Research-Grade Peptides. 99%+ Purity. COA Included.
Every order ships with a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis from an independent third-party laboratory. US-based. 1–2 business day fulfillment. Free shipping on orders over $200.
