Compound research notes
Prepared by: Research Desk. Sources are linked for verification.
These notes are research-only overviews of compounds that appear in the catalogue of a laboratory research supplier. Each note covers what the compound is, how it was discovered, the mechanisms studied in cell and animal work, the published research landscape with links to PubMed, and its regulatory status. They do not describe uses, effects in people, amounts or methods of administration.
Each note ends with a short section that links to the supplier's listing. Those links are paid affiliate links and are labelled as such. See the affiliate disclosure.
BPC-157: origin, preclinical research and regulatory status
A research-only overview of the pentadecapeptide BPC-157: where it comes from, what animal and cell studies report, and why regulators have not approved it.
TB-500 and thymosin beta-4: structure, research and regulation
A research-only overview of TB-500, the synthetic fragment linked to thymosin beta-4: structure, preclinical findings, doping-control research and regulation.
GHK-Cu (copper tripeptide): chemistry, research and regulation
A research-only overview of GHK-Cu, the copper complex of the tripeptide glycyl-histidyl-lysine: discovery, laboratory findings and regulatory status.
Retatrutide: a triple receptor agonist in clinical development
A research-only overview of retatrutide (LY3437943), an investigational triple receptor agonist: design, preclinical work, published trials and regulatory status.
MOTS-c: a mitochondrial-encoded peptide in metabolic research
A research-only overview of MOTS-c, a 16-amino-acid peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA: discovery, mechanisms studied in mice and cells, and regulation.
SS-31 (elamipretide): a cardiolipin-binding peptide
A research-only overview of SS-31 (elamipretide), a mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide: chemistry, mechanism, trial history and the 2025 FDA decision.
NAD+: the coenzyme at the centre of ageing research
A research-only overview of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+): structure, discovery, enzyme roles, the ageing research literature and regulatory status.
Thymosin alpha-1: an immunology peptide from the thymus
A research-only overview of thymosin alpha-1: isolation from thymus tissue, immune signalling studied in cells and animals, the trial record and regulation.