GHK-Cu + KPV Research Guidetwo-component blend · component-level only · not a single drug
The SRP listing GHK-Cu + KPV (50/10 mg Vial) is a vendor 50/10 mg lyophilized mixture of a copper-binding tripeptide complex (GHK-Cu / prezatide copper, Gly-His-Lys plus copper) and a separate α-MSH C-terminal tripeptide (KPV, Lys-Pro-Val; α-MSH 11–13). It is not a single defined drug substance. The two component literatures are separate. No opened paper tested the combination as a unit. Copper complexation of the dual vial is not shown on the product page. The 50 mg / 10 mg masses are a vendor listing, not a published combination dose. Research use only. Not medical advice. Not for human use.
GHK-Cu CID 71587328
KPV CID 125672
Component-level only
0 blend NCT
Research use only
Educational information only. This page describes an investigational two-component laboratory research mixture. It is not medical advice. Simple Research Peptides (SRP) materials are for laboratory research only and are not for human or veterinary use, consumption, administration, diagnosis, treatment, or therapeutic application. Sequence, CAS, UNII, CID, copper stoichiometry, and a public COA were not printed on the fetched blend page. No human dosing, reconstitution, or administration protocol appears on this page. Historical fibroblast concentrations (10−12–10−9 M) and 2 mg rat-chamber injections are study conditions from component papers, not instructions and not blend data.
Sequence and chemical identity (opened registries only)
SRP product and index pages do not print CAS, UNII, PubChem CID, molecular formula, sequences, copper stoichiometry, or a public COA for either component. Identity below is taken only from opened public registries and from primary papers that name GHK-Cu or KPV separately. Do not merge the two tables. This page is a two-component research mixture, not a single defined drug substance, not GHK-Cu alone, not KPV alone, not free GHK without copper, not α-MSH, not melanotan II, not bremelanotide / PT-141, not ACTH, and not a copper salt alone.
Opened SRP product page title: “GHK-Cu + KPV (50/10 mg Vial)”. Subhead: “GHK-Cu / KPV Blend 50mg / 10mg Research Peptide.” Category line: Beauty / Skin Research, Recovery / Inflammation Research, Recovery & Healing Research. Bullets: Vial Size 50 mg GHK-Cu / 10 mg KPV; Purity ≥99%; COA available; Made in the USA; lyophilized dual-peptide research blend; third-party tested; laboratory and research applications only. Description: supplied for controlled laboratory evaluation of GHK-Cu + KPV within Beauty / Skin Research studies. Listed strength: 50/10 mg Vial. Footer: for laboratory research only; not for human or animal use. Price printed $80.00; “21 in stock (can be backordered)” — vendor-only language, not chemistry. Sequence, CAS, UNII, CID, copper:peptide stoichiometry, free GHK vs copper-complexed GHK, a public COA file, a published 50/10 combination dose, and a statement that the two peptides were co-tested were not printed.
A. Component 1 — GHK (free tripeptide) vs GHK-Cu (copper complex)
These are related but not identical registry objects. A vial labeled “GHK-Cu” is not chemically identified until copper complexation, stereochemistry, and stoichiometry are confirmed analytically. Free GHK (prezatide) is the peptide ligand. GHK-Cu (prezatide copper) is a coordination complex. Do not use CID 378611 as the L,L copper-complex identity (unspecified stereo; no CAS xref).
| Identifier | Value on opened page | Source opened |
|---|---|---|
| Peptide sequence | Gly-His-Lys / GHK; PubChem biologic H-Gly-His-Lys-OH; HELM PEPTIDE1{G.H.K} | PubChem CID 73587 |
| Free-peptide title | glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine; Prezatide | PubChem CID 73587; NCATS UNII 39TG2H631E; FDA SRS |
| Free-peptide PubChem CID | 73587 (L,L; 2 defined stereocenters) | PubChem HTML + PUG REST, opened 16 August 2026 |
| Free-peptide CAS | 49557-75-7 (primary on CID 73587 and NCATS) | PubChem; NCATS; FDA SRS |
| Extra CAS on CID 73587 xrefs (do not collapse) | 1227510-36-2; 300801-03-0; 72957-37-0; 75701-30-3. Related HTML CAS: 130120-57-9 (copper acetate salt/solvate); 72957-37-0 (monoacetate) | PubChem PUG xrefs / HTML |
| Free-peptide UNII | 39TG2H631E (PREZATIDE) | PubChem; NCATS; FDA SRS |
| Free-peptide formula / MW | C14H24N6O4; 340.38 g/mol | PubChem CID 73587; NCATS 340.3787 |
| Free-peptide InChIKey | MVORZMQFXBLMHM-QWRGUYRKSA-N | PubChem; NCATS; FDA SRS |
| INCI (free peptide) | Tripeptide-1 | PubChem; NCATS; FDA SRS |
| Unspecified-stereo twin (do not cite as L,L GHK) | CID 342538, Glycylhistidyllysine, InChIKey MVORZMQFXBLMHM-UHFFFAOYSA-N | PubChem PUG REST |
| Copper-complex preferred CID used here | CID 71587328, title Prezatide copper; parent CID 73587; CAS 89030-95-5; synonym UNII-6BJQ43T1I9 | PubChem HTML, opened 16 August 2026. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/71587328 |
| Copper-complex UNII | 6BJQ43T1I9 (PREZATIDE COPPER) | NCATS; FDA SRS |
| Copper-complex CAS | 89030-95-5 | NCATS; FDA SRS; PubChem CID 71587328. PUG name 89030-95-5 resolves to CID 71587328, not 378611. |
| Copper-complex INCI | Copper tripeptide-1 | NCATS; FDA SRS; PubChem CID 71587328 |
| Formula / MW on CID 71587328 | C14H23CuN6O4+ ; 402.92 g/mol; InChIKey NZWIFMYRRCMYMN-ACMTZBLWSA-M | PubChem CID 71587328 |
| Formula / MW on NCATS | C14H22N6O4.Cu ; 401.908; InChIKey QMIFIFIYYPUVNU-ACMTZBLWSA-L; 2/2 defined stereocenters | NCATS UNII 6BJQ43T1I9. Different protonation/charge model of the same named substance, not two drugs. |
| Matching NCATS InChIKey CID | CID 10111685, C14H22CuN6O4, 401.91 g/mol | PubChem PUG REST |
| Unspecified-stereo copper record (do not treat as L,L complex) | CID 378611, title Cu-GHK; C14H24CuN6O4; MW 403.92; InChIKey DIWZQABMLHSNJR-UHFFFAOYSA-N; 0 defined / 2 undefined stereocenters; parent CID 342538; no CAS xref | PubChem HTML + PUG. Distinction only. |
| DrugBank IDs | Free peptide DB11296; copper complex DB14683 | PubChem CID 73587 / 71587328; NCATS |
| RxCUI | prezatide 1368533; prezatide copper 1314233 | PubChem / NCATS |
| IUPHAR ligand for GHK / GHK-Cu / prezatide | No ligand found | IUPHAR services /ligands?name= |
| IUPHAR inorganic copper | Ligand 4164, name Cu2+, type Inorganic | IUPHAR services name=copper. Distinction only. |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (blend) | 0 studies for GHK-Cu KPV | CT.gov API v2, opened 16 August 2026 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (GHK-Cu term, not the blend) | Three hits, none a GHK-Cu + KPV combination and none an injectable SRP-vial program: NCT07437586, NCT07706361, NCT05932732 | CT.gov API v2 + study pages. Label unused / not blend. |
| openFDA Drugs@FDA | prezatide / UNII 39TG2H631E / UNII 6BJQ43T1I9: NOT_FOUND. Loose string GHK-Cu matched unrelated Detectnet (copper Cu 64 dotatate, NDA 213227) — unused as GHK-Cu identity | openFDA API, opened 16 August 2026 |
| FDA-approved injectable GHK-Cu drug | None on opened NCATS/openFDA/SRP dedicated-guide pages. NCATS “First approved in 2011” / Volu-Firm is a DailyMed inactive-ingredient / sunburn cosmetic context, not an NDA for injectable GHK-Cu | NCATS; live SRP GHK-Cu dedicated guide |
| SRP standalone GHK-Cu listing | GHK-Cu (100 mg Vial); $55.00; Beauty / Skin Research. Different listing from the blend. | SRP product page |
| SRP dedicated GHK-Cu guide (live; do not contradict) | Identity line: “Glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex.” Regulatory status: “No FDA-approved injectable GHK-Cu drug.” | http://simpleresearchpeptides.com/research-compound-directory/ghk-cu-research-guide/ |
Registry chaos that must not be collapsed.
- CID 73587 is free GHK (L,L). CID 71587328 / UNII 6BJQ43T1I9 is the copper complex with CAS 89030-95-5. They share a parent–complex relationship; they are not the same CID.
- CID 378611 is an unspecified-stereo “Cu-GHK” with a different formula (C14H24CuN6O4), a different InChIKey, parent CID 342538, and no CAS xref. Do not use 378611 as the L,L copper-complex identity. CAS 89030-95-5 appears on CID 71587328, not on CID 378611.
- NCATS formula C14H22N6O4.Cu / 401.908 and PubChem CID 71587328 formula C14H23CuN6O4+ / 402.92 are different protonation/charge models of the same named substance, not two drugs. CID 10111685 carries the NCATS InChIKey.
- PubChem CID 73587 depositor synonyms include “GHK-Cu”, “Copper Peptide”, and “Copper(II)ghk”. Those aliases sit on the free-peptide CID. They are nomenclature noise, not proof that CID 73587 is the copper complex.
- Related CAS 130120-57-9 (copper acetate salt/solvate) on CID 73587 is a salt/solvate pointer, not a second peptide.
- NCATS “Possibly Marketed Outside US” / Approval Year 2011 / condition Sunburns as an inactive ingredient in Volu-Firm is not FDA approval of GHK-Cu as a drug. The live SRP GHK-Cu dedicated guide already states there is no FDA-approved injectable GHK-Cu drug. This blend page follows that statement.
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review text on CID 73587 / 71587328 (“Safe in the present practices of use and concentration”) is a topical cosmetic finding for Tripeptide-1 / Copper Tripeptide-1. It is not an injectable-drug safety package and is not blend evidence.
Arithmetic on opened molecular weights, not a published dose. Using CID 71587328 (402.92 g/mol) and CID 125672 (342.43 g/mol), 50 mg GHK-Cu is about 0.124 mmol and 10 mg KPV is about 0.029 mmol (mass ratio 5:1; mole ratio about 4.3:1). That calculation is only unit conversion from registry MW. It is not a paper, not a protocol, and not evidence that 50/10 is a studied combination.
B. Component 2 — KPV (Lys-Pro-Val; α-MSH(11–13) free acid)
PubChem labels CID 125672 “Msh (11-13)” and “alpha-MSH (11-13) (free acid).” A dual vial containing both names is still two analytical identities. No KPV UNII is used on this page. IUPHAR has no KPV ligand.
| Identifier | Value on opened page | Source opened |
|---|---|---|
| Peptide sequence | Lys-Pro-Val / KPV; IUPAC condensed H-Lys-Pro-Val-OH; HELM PEPTIDE1{K.P.V} | PubChem CID 125672 biologic description |
| PubChem title | Msh (11-13) | PubChem CID 125672 |
| PubChem CID | 125672 (3 defined stereocenters) | PubChem HTML + PUG REST |
| CAS | 67727-97-3 (only RN on PUG xrefs) | PubChem CID 125672 |
| Formula / MW | C16H30N4O4; 342.43 g/mol | PubChem |
| InChIKey | YSPZCHGIWAQVKQ-AVGNSLFASA-N | PubChem |
| IUPAC (computed) | (2S)-2-[[(2S)-1-[(2S)-2,6-diaminohexanoyl]pyrrolidine-2-carbonyl]amino]-3-methylbutanoic acid | PubChem |
| MeSH / synonyms on CID 125672 | MSH (11-13); L-lysyl-L-prolyl-L-valine; Lys-Pro-Val; alpha-MSH (11-13); ACTH-(11-13); alpha-Melanotropin(11-13) | PubChem MeSH + depositor synonyms |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:160254; “Lys-Pro-Val is a tripeptide.” | PubChem |
| EPA DSSTox | DTXSID80987067 | PubChem |
| UNII / NCATS dedicated drug record | Not found on opened PubChem CID 125672 (no UNII heading). NCATS search LYS-PRO-VAL returned parent melanocortin / ACTH records (afamelanotide acetate, corticotropin, seractide, tiplimotide), not a standalone KPV UNII. No KPV UNII is used in this page. | PubChem; NCATS API |
| IUPHAR ligand for KPV / Lys-Pro-Val | No ligand found | IUPHAR services |
| Parent hormone (distinction only) | α-MSH, IUPHAR ligand 1320; precursor POMC; CAS 581-05-5; PubChem CID 16162729 | IUPHAR ligand 1320 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | query.term=KPV and query.intr=KPV: 0 studies. Lys-Pro-Val returned unrelated lexical hits (not KPV peptide trials) | CT.gov API v2 |
| openFDA | KPV: NOT_FOUND. CAS 67727-97-3 matched unrelated ANDA ondansetron — unused | openFDA |
| SRP standalone KPV listing | “KPV 10 mg Inflammation Research Peptide Vial”; $60.00; Recovery / Inflammation Research; 10 mg; ≥99%; COA available; lyophilized research peptide. Different listing from the blend. | SRP product page |
| SRP dedicated KPV guide | 404 at /research-compound-directory/kpv-research-guide/ | Opened 16 August 2026 |
KPV form-chaos that must not be collapsed. Hiltz & Lipton 1989 (PMID 2550304) tested α-MSH[11-13] in a mouse ear-swelling model. Hiltz & Lipton 1991 (PMID 1788140) tested Ac-α-MSH(11-13)-NH2 and D-amino-acid analogs — an N-acetyl, C-amide tripeptide, not automatically CID 125672 free acid. Dalmasso 2008 (PMID 18061177) names KPV (Lys-Pro-Val) and uses nanomolar concentrations plus oral drinking-water exposure in mice. This page does not assume SRP “KPV 10 mg” is the acetylated amide, the free acid, or the 1989/1991 lot. Confirm termini on a COA.
What the molecules actually are (component-level). GHK is a plasma-derived Gly-His-Lys tripeptide that coordinates Cu(II); the copper complex is the species used in the opened Maquart / Siméon fibroblast and rat wound-chamber papers. KPV is the three-residue C-terminus of α-MSH (residues 11–13 of the tridecapeptide). A dual vial containing both names is still two analytical identities. Copper complexation of the SRP dual cake is not shown.
How the blend is not GHK-Cu alone, not KPV alone, not α-MSH, not melanotan, and not a copper salt
This page is the two-component mixture as a catalog object. Component papers remain labeled as component papers. GHK-Cu papers are not blend efficacy. KPV papers are not GHK-Cu efficacy. Reviews that merely name both tripeptides are not combination tests. The blend is combination untested as a unit.
| Identity | What opened sources actually describe | Peptide? | Typical literature role |
|---|---|---|---|
| GHK (prezatide) | Gly-His-Lys; CID 73587; CAS 49557-75-7; UNII 39TG2H631E; C14H24N6O4; MW 340.38 | Yes (tripeptide) | Copper-binding ligand; INCI Tripeptide-1. Not the blend. |
| GHK-Cu (prezatide copper) | Copper complex of GHK; UNII 6BJQ43T1I9; CAS 89030-95-5; CID 71587328; INCI Copper tripeptide-1 | Yes (peptide–Cu complex) | Fibroblast / ECM / rat wound-chamber literature. Not the blend. Component-level only. |
| KPV (this component) | Lys-Pro-Val; CID 125672; CAS 67727-97-3; α-MSH(11–13) free acid | Yes (tripeptide) | Preclinical anti-inflammatory fragment literature. Not the blend. Component-level only. |
| α-MSH | Tridecapeptide from POMC; IUPHAR ligand 1320; CAS 581-05-5; CID 16162729 | Yes (13 aa) | Principal endogenous MC1 agonist (IUPHAR target 282). Not KPV. |
| ACTH | IUPHAR ligand 1331; longer POMC peptide | Yes | Adrenal / melanocortin biology. Not KPV. |
| Melanotan II (MT-II) | Cyclic analog; IUPHAR ligand 1323; CID 92432 | Yes (cyclic peptide) | Multi-MC receptor research ligand. Not KPV, not GHK-Cu. |
| Bremelanotide / PT-141 | IUPHAR ligand 10408; INN bremelanotide; synonyms PT-141, Vyleesi®; US FDA 2019; CAS 189691-06-3 | Yes (cyclic peptide) | Approved-drug melanocortin agonist in a regulated product. Not this vial. |
| Afamelanotide | IUPHAR ligand 1324; EMA 2014 / FDA 2019 | Yes | Approved α-MSH analogue in a regulated product. Not KPV. |
| Cu2+ / copper salt alone | IUPHAR ligand 4164 | No (inorganic ion) | Siméon 2000: copper ions reproduced the MMP-2 increase that GHK alone did not. Copper salt ≠ GHK-Cu ≠ the blend. |
| KdPT / K(D)PT | Brzoska 2007 abstract: derivative of KPV corresponding to IL-1β 193–195 | Different tripeptide | Adjacent melanocortin-fragment literature. Not KPV. |
| This SRP blend | Vendor co-lyophilized 50 mg GHK-Cu + 10 mg KPV | Two peptides | No opened combination paper. Combination untested. |
The blend is not GHK-Cu alone
Standalone GHK-Cu has its own SRP 100 mg listing and a live dedicated facts guide. Fibroblast collagen / MMP-2 and rat wound-chamber papers dosed GHK-Cu, not GHK-Cu plus KPV. Those rows are component-level.
The blend is not KPV alone
Standalone KPV has its own SRP 10 mg listing. Hiltz, Dalmasso, and Kannengiesser dosed KPV / α-MSH(11-13), not a copper-tripeptide mixture. Those rows are component-level.
The blend is not α-MSH
α-MSH is a 13-residue POMC peptide and the principal endogenous MC1 agonist (IUPHAR 1320 / target 282). KPV is three residues at the C-terminus. Elliott 2004 (PMID 15102092) asked whether KPV uses MC-1R / cAMP the way α-MSH does; the opened abstract reports no cAMP elevation in keratinocytes for α-MSH, KPV, or ACTH in that system. That is not proof that KPV is a full MC1 agonist, and it is not GHK-Cu pharmacology.
The blend is not melanotan II, bremelanotide, or afamelanotide
Those are cyclic melanocortin ligands with IUPHAR records (1323, 10408, 1324). Two of them are approved drugs in other products. Catalog “inflammation / recovery / skin” language does not convert a research blend into Vyleesi or Scenesse.
The blend is not a copper salt. Siméon 2000 (PMID 11045606) is the opened paper that most clearly separates GHK-Cu, GHK alone, and copper ions on MMP-2 in fibroblast cultures. The blend adds a second peptide that was not in that experiment.
Co-lyophilization is not a published combination product. No opened paper reports the 50/10 mass ratio, copper occupancy of a dual cake, or chemical compatibility of GHK-Cu with KPV in one vial. The 50/10 mg pair is a vendor listing, not a published combination dose.
Proposed mechanism (component-level only; labeled as such)
Opened primary papers support two separate working models. Neither model is a treatment claim. Neither model was generated with the SRP 50/10 mixture. Observed means a measurement in an opened component paper. Proposed means a hypothesis. Class / adjacent means distinction biology. Not shown means the opened papers did not establish it for the blend.
GHK-Cu component (not the blend)
Copper-binding tripeptide, not a cloned GHK receptor
IUPHAR has no GHK / GHK-Cu / prezatide ligand. Maquart 1988 (PMID 3169264) states that GHK is a tripeptide with affinity for copper(II), isolated from human plasma, and that GHK-Cu stimulated collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures beginning between 10−12 and 10−11 M, maximal at 10−9 M, independent of a change in cell number. That is a cell-culture concentration–response, not a human dose and not a KPV result. Component-level only.
ECM production and remodeling are both reported
Siméon 2000 (PMID 11045606) found GHK-Cu increased MMP-2 protein and mRNA in dermal fibroblast conditioned media, reproduced by copper ions but not by GHK alone, and also increased TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. The authors’ own sentence is that GHK-Cu is “not only an activator of connective tissue production but also of the remodeling of the extracellular matrix.” The live SRP GHK-Cu dedicated guide already uses this MMP-2 / collagen framing. This blend page keeps it component-level. This is the opened paper that forbids equating free GHK, copper salt, and GHK-Cu.
Local chamber injections, not a 50/10 mixture
Maquart 1993 (PMID 8227353; PMC 288419) injected GHK-Cu into stainless-steel wound chambers on rat backs and reported concentration-dependent increases in dry weight, DNA, total protein, collagen, and glycosaminoglycans versus saline; collagen stimulation was twice that of noncollagen proteins; type I and III collagen mRNAs increased; TGF-β mRNAs did not; control tripeptide Glu-His-Pro had no significant effect. Siméon 1999 (PMID 10383745) used serial 2 mg GHK-Cu injections into the same class of chambers and reported later-stage increases in pro-MMP-2 and activated MMP-2 (days 18 and/or 22) without a change in interstitial collagenase activity. Siméon 2000 JID (PMID 11121126) reported 2 mg injections stimulating wound-tissue production, type I collagen, and glycosaminoglycans, with decorin mRNA up and biglycan mRNA down in the chamber. Those are GHK-Cu, rat, local chamber findings. 2 mg chamber injections are not an SRP instruction.
Pickart 2008 / 2015 are secondary
Pickart 2008 (PMID 18644225) and Pickart 2015 (PMID 26236730; cited on NCATS description pages) catalog many proposed actions, including gene-expression claims and cosmetic-endpoint language. They are not used here as primary combination evidence and they do not test KPV. Human cosmetic / “4000 genes” sentences are not used as primary findings.
KPV component (not the blend)
C-terminal α-MSH fragment, not the parent tridecapeptide
Hiltz & Lipton 1989 (PMID 2550304) reported that α-MSH[11-13] inhibited picryl-chloride ear swelling in mice in a dose-related fashion versus saline, compared with a large corticosteroid dose. Hiltz 1990 (PMID 2284205) reported anti-inflammatory effects of α-MSH peptides, including the C-terminal tripeptide, in mouse-paw edema and contact sensitivity. Those are mouse topical-irritant / edema models. Component-level. Not GHK-Cu. Not the blend.
Ac-amide analog SAR is not automatically free-acid KPV
Hiltz 1991 (PMID 1788140) used Ac-α-MSH(11-13)-NH2. Ac-[D-Pro12] was inactive; some D-Val13 analogs were more active than the parent tripeptide in that assay. An SRP “KPV” free-acid lot is not automatically that analog set. Confirm termini on a COA.
PepT1 transport is not a receptor assignment
Dalmasso 2008 (PMID 18061177; PMC 2431115) states that KPV’s mechanisms “still remain unknown,” then reports that nanomolar KPV inhibited NF-κB and MAP-kinase pathways and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion in intestinal epithelial and Jurkat cells; that KPV competed for PepT1 substrate uptake; and that oral KPV in drinking water reduced histologic inflammation and cytokine mRNA in DSS- and TNBS-colitis mice. The authors propose PepT1-mediated uptake. IUPHAR still has no KPV ligand. Component-level. Not GHK-Cu.
MC1 independence is incomplete, not absent
Kannengiesser 2008 (PMID 18092346) reported earlier recovery, greater body-weight regain, reduced histologic infiltrates and MPO in DSS colitis, recovery in CD45RB(hi) transfer colitis, and rescue from death during DSS colitis in MC1Re/e mice (nonfunctional MC1). Authors conclude effects are at least partially independent of MC1R. That is a mouse colitis statement, not proof that KPV has no melanocortin biology in every tissue, and not a GHK-Cu result.
No cAMP in keratinocytes in Elliott 2004
Elliott 2004 (PMID 15102092) found no cAMP elevation in HaCaT or normal human keratinocytes to α-MSH, KPV, or ACTH, but reported intracellular calcium responses in HaCaT cells to those peptides (including KPV and KP-D-V) in the presence of PIA, and calcium responses in CHO cells stably transfected with MC-1. Brzoska 2007 (PMID 17934097) is a review attributing many α-MSH anti-inflammatory activities to C-terminal KPV and introducing K(D)PT as a different tripeptide. Reviews are secondary.
No shared receptor, no synergy assay
Not shown on an opened page for the blend: a shared receptor; a synergy assay; copper occupancy of GHK inside a dual cake; PepT1 or MC1 data generated with GHK-Cu present; human PK of 50/10; chemical compatibility; a ClinicalTrials.gov combination record. Combination untested as a unit.
Maquart: GHK-Cu stimulates collagen at 10−9 M
Cell culture. Not KPV. Not the blend. Not human. PMID 3169264.
Hiltz & Lipton: α-MSH[11-13] and Ac-amide analogs
Mouse irritant models. Termini matter. PMID 2550304; PMID 1788140.
Maquart / Siméon: GHK-Cu ≠ GHK ≠ Cu2+
Local chamber and fibroblast work. PMID 8227353; PMID 11045606.
Dalmasso and Kannengiesser: mouse colitis, not human IBD
Not GHK-Cu. Not the blend. PMID 18061177; PMID 18092346.
Adnan 2025 and a 2026 peptide review name GHK and KPV in separate sentences
Europe PMC combination queries hitCount 2. Unused as blend efficacy. PMID 41209547; PMID 42123471.
Where the literature actually sits
Label every row. GHK-Cu ≠ KPV ≠ α-MSH ≠ the 50/10 vial. Historical or cosmetic language is not a completed therapeutic program. Keep streams separate. GHK-Cu papers are component-level. KPV papers are component-level. Blend-specific papers: none opened.
Fibroblast + rat wound chamber
Maquart 1988 collagen (PMID 3169264); Wegrowski 1992 GAG (PMID 1522753); Maquart 1993 rat chamber (PMID 8227353); Siméon 1999 MMP-2/9 (PMID 10383745); Siméon 2000 GHK vs Cu vs GHK-Cu (PMID 11045606); Siméon 2000 GAG/decorin (PMID 11121126); Pollard 2005 irradiated fibroblasts (PMID 15655171). Secondary: Pickart 2008/2015 (PMID 18644225; PMID 26236730). Unused no-abstract titles: PMID 4349963, PMID 4356974, PMID 3670089. Not KPV. Not the blend. Not human RCTs.
Mouse irritant / colitis + keratinocyte signaling
Hiltz 1989 ear swelling (PMID 2550304); Hiltz 1990 paw edema (PMID 2284205); Hiltz 1991 Ac-amide SAR (PMID 1788140); Elliott 2004 keratinocytes (PMID 15102092); Dalmasso 2008 PepT1 / colitis (PMID 18061177); Kannengiesser 2008 MC1Re/e (PMID 18092346). Secondary: Brzoska 2007 (PMID 17934097; KPV ≠ K(D)PT). Not GHK-Cu. Not the blend. Not human IBD.
Combination untested as a unit
None opened. Europe PMC query “GHK-Cu” AND KPV and (GHK-Cu OR “copper tripeptide” OR prezatide) AND (KPV OR “Lys-Pro-Val”) each returned hitCount 2, both reviews that name multiple tripeptides, not combination experiments: Adnan 2025 (PMID 41209547) and a 2026 IJMS review (PMID 42123471). ClinicalTrials.gov query.term=GHK-Cu KPV: 0 studies. No opened paper tested this mixture as a unit.
GHK-Cu term NCTs are not blend trials
NCT07437586: topical 0.1% GHK-Cu gel, recruiting, no results, not KPV, not injectable. NCT07706361: X39 patch; does not administer GHK-Cu peptide. NCT05932732: HydraFacial + Regen-GF multi-ingredient. IUPHAR α-MSH 1320 / MC1 282 / MT-II 1323 / bremelanotide 10408 / afamelanotide 1324 / Cu2+ 4164: distinction only. CIR topical “safe in present practices” is not injectable approval. NCATS Volu-Firm 2011 is inactive-ingredient cosmetic context. openFDA GHK-Cu → Detectnet: unused string collision.
No combination trial; no injectable GHK-Cu NDA
CT.gov: 0 blend studies; 0 KPV studies. openFDA prezatide / both UNIIs / KPV: NOT_FOUND. Live SRP GHK-Cu dedicated guide: no FDA-approved injectable GHK-Cu drug. Do not invent NCTs. Do not treat NCT07437586 as a blend trial or as results.
SRP 50/10 prints names and milligrams, not sequences
Opened blend page: GHK-Cu + KPV (50/10 mg Vial); lyophilized dual-peptide research blend; RUO. Sequence, CAS, UNII, CID, copper stoichiometry, and a public COA were not printed. Index tag: Component-level evidence only. Product page.
Opened records, read as they actually sit
Read the “what it did not show” column. Published study designs are historical facts from those papers. They are not a protocol. Fibroblast concentrations and 2 mg rat-chamber injections are study conditions, not instructions for an SRP 50/10 research vial. Every GHK-Cu row is labeled component-level. Every KPV row is labeled component-level. Snapshot C is empty of combination tests.
A. GHK-Cu opened papers (component only)
| Study | Species / model | What was tested | Actual finding (from the opened record) | What it did not show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maquart, Pickart, Laurent, Gillery, Monboisse, Borel, 1988 PMID 3169264. DOI 10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-x. Opened Europe PMC abstract. Component-level. |
Fibroblast cultures | GHK-Cu (copper complex of plasma GHK) | Collagen-synthesis stimulation began between 10−12 and 10−11 M, maximal at 10−9 M, independent of cell-number change. Authors note a GHK triplet in the α2(I) chain of type I collagen as a possible wound-site liberation hypothesis. Cell culture. Not KPV. Not the blend. Not human. | KPV. The 50/10 vial. A human RCT. Copper occupancy of an SRP dual cake. |
| Wegrowski, Maquart, Borel, 1992 PMID 1522753. DOI 10.1016/0024-3205(92)90504-i. Opened abstract. Component-level. |
Normal human fibroblasts in culture; 3H-glucosamine / 35S-sulfate | GHK-Cu | Dose-dependent increase of sulfated GAG synthesis (medium and cell layer); biphasic, maximal at 10−9 to 10−8 M; preferential extracellular dermatan sulfate and cell-layer heparan sulfate; no influence on hyaluronic acid synthesis in this abstract. Cell culture. Not the blend. | KPV. Human wound RCT. Blend efficacy. |
| Maquart et al., 1993 PMID 8227353. DOI 10.1172/jci116842. PMC 288419. Opened abstract. Component-level. |
Rats; Schilling stainless-steel wound chambers, sequential injections vs saline | GHK-Cu vs control tripeptide Glu-His-Pro | Concentration-dependent increase of dry weight, DNA, total protein, collagen, GAG; collagen stimulation twice noncollagen proteins; type I and III collagen mRNA up; TGF-β mRNA not increased; Glu-His-Pro no significant effect. Rat local chamber. Not KPV. Not human. | KPV. Dual-vial compatibility. Human injectable efficacy. |
| Siméon, Monier, Emonard, Gillery, Birembaut, Hornebeck, Maquart, 1999 PMID 10383745. DOI 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1999.00606.x. Opened Europe PMC abstract. Component-level. |
Sprague-Dawley rats; wound chambers; serial 2 mg GHK-Cu vs saline | GHK-Cu | Interstitial collagenase rose over time and was not altered by GHK-Cu. MMP-9 and MMP-2 were the main gelatinases. GHK-Cu increased pro-MMP-2 and activated MMP-2 at later stages (days 18 and/or 22); MMP-9 persisted in treated wound tissue until day 22. Rat. 2 mg chamber injections are not an SRP-vial instruction. | KPV. An SRP reconstitution scheme. Human data. |
| Siméon, Emonard, Hornebeck, Maquart, 2000 PMID 11045606. DOI 10.1016/s0024-3205(00)00803-1. Opened Europe PMC abstract. Component-level. Matches the live GHK-Cu dedicated-guide MMP-2 source. |
Dermal fibroblasts in culture | GHK-Cu vs GHK alone vs copper ions | GHK-Cu increased MMP-2 in conditioned media; effect reproduced by copper ions but not by GHK alone; MMP-2 mRNA up; TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 secretion up. Authors: GHK-Cu modulates ECM remodeling, not only production. This is the opened paper that forbids equating free GHK, copper salt, and GHK-Cu. | KPV. Blend co-administration. Proof that an SRP dual cake is copper-complexed. |
| Siméon, Wegrowski, Bontemps, Maquart, 2000 PMID 11121126. DOI 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2000.00166.x. Opened abstract. Component-level. |
Rat wound chambers (2 mg injections) + rat dermal fibroblast cultures | GHK-Cu | Increased wound-tissue dry weight and total protein; increased type I collagen and GAGs; enhanced chondroitin / dermatan sulfate accumulation; chamber decorin mRNA up, biglycan mRNA down; fibroblast cultures: decorin stimulation reproduced, biglycan unchanged. Rat + cell culture. Not the blend. | KPV. Human RCT. 50/10 combination dose. |
| Pollard, Quan, Kang, Koch, 2005 PMID 15655171. DOI 10.1001/archfaci.7.1.27. Opened abstract. Component-level. |
Primary human dermal fibroblasts from irradiated head-and-neck patients vs normal; serum-free culture | GHK-Cu 1 × 10−9 mol/L | Treated normal and irradiated fibroblasts doubled faster than untreated controls; irradiated fibroblasts treated with GHK-Cu doubled at a rate approximating untreated normal controls; early increase in bFGF and VEGF vs untreated irradiated controls. Ex vivo culture. Not a clinical wound RCT. Not KPV. | Blend. Injectable human efficacy. KPV co-treatment. |
| Pickart, 2008 PMID 18644225. DOI 10.1163/156856208784909435. Opened abstract. Secondary review. Component-level. |
Review | GHK / GHK-Cu narrative | Catalog of remodeling-related claims; states GHK-Cu stimulates wound healing “in numerous models and in humans” and that controlled studies on aged skin reported cosmetic-type endpoints. Secondary. Human cosmetic sentences are not used as primary findings for this blend page. | A combination trial. Primary RCT tables. KPV. |
| Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero, Margolina, 2015 PMID 26236730. DOI 10.1155/2015/648108. Opened abstract. Secondary review. Component-level. |
Review | GHK narrative | Plasma/saliva/urine occurrence; age-decline claim; broad skin-regeneration catalog; “at least 4,000 human genes” claim. Secondary. Not a combination trial. Gene-count claim not independently re-opened as primary data here. | Blend efficacy. Injectable GHK-Cu NDA. |
| Pickart & Thaler, 1973 / Pickart, Thaler, Li, 1973 / Pickart & Lovejoy, 1987 PMID 4349963; PMID 4356974 DOI 10.1016/0006-291x(73)91459-9; PMID 3670089. Unused as findings. |
Isolation-series / methods titles | Named GHK-era isolation / synthetic tripeptide / methods chapter | No abstract on the opened Europe PMC records. Bibliographic identity only. Unused as findings. | Any efficacy claim. Blend data. |
B. KPV opened papers (component only)
These abstracts report what the authors claimed for KPV / α-MSH(11-13). They did not include GHK-Cu. They are not blend efficacy.
| Study | Species / model | What was tested | Actual finding (from the opened record) | What it did not show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiltz & Lipton, 1989 PMID 2550304. DOI 10.1096/fasebj.3.11.2550304. Opened Europe PMC abstract. Component-level. |
Mice; picryl-chloride ear swelling vs saline and a large corticosteroid dose | α-MSH[11-13] (COOH-terminal tripeptide; authors name lysine-proline-valine as the antipyretic message sequence) | Dose-related inhibition of ear swelling. Authors suggest endogenous α-MSH and COOH-terminal fragments may modulate host defense and that peptide drugs/mimetics might be developed — a 1989 hypothesis, not an approval. Mouse. Not GHK-Cu. Not the blend. | GHK-Cu. Human dermatitis RCT. SRP-vial identity. |
| Hiltz & Lipton, 1990 PMID 2284205. DOI 10.1016/0196-9781(90)90020-6. Opened abstract. Component-level. |
Mouse paw acute edema and contact sensitivity | α-MSH peptides including the C-terminal tripeptide | Significant anti-inflammatory effects in both models. Authors note circulating α-MSH rises after endogenous pyrogen/endotoxin, so administration may mimic host-defense modulation. Mouse. Not the blend. | GHK-Cu. Human data. Blend synergy. |
| Hiltz, Catania, Lipton, 1991 PMID 1788140. DOI 10.1016/0196-9781(91)90131-8. Opened abstract. Component-level. |
Mice; picryl chloride; 3 and 6 h ear swelling | Ac-α-MSH(11-13)-NH2 and D-amino-acid analogs | Parent Ac-tripeptide reduced swelling (confirms prior work). Ac-[D-Lys11] similar; Ac-[D-Pro12] inactive; Ac-[D-Val13] and Ac-[D-Lys11,D-Val13] generally greater activity than parent. This is amidated/acetylated analog SAR, not automatically CID 125672 free acid. | Free-acid KPV identity of an SRP lot. GHK-Cu. Blend. |
| Elliott, Szabo, Wagner, Kemp, MacNeil, Haycock, 2004 PMID 15102092. DOI 10.1111/j.0022-202x.2004.22404.x. Opened abstract. Component-level. |
HaCaT and normal human keratinocytes; CHO cells transfected with MC-1 | α-MSH, KPV, KP-D-V, ACTH, ACTH 1-17 | No cAMP elevation in keratinocytes to α-MSH, KPV, or ACTH. Calcium signals in HaCaT to those peptides in the presence of PIA; normal keratinocytes also responded to ACTH 1-17. CHO-MC-1 transfectants: α-MSH and KPV peptides elevated intracellular calcium. In vitro signaling. Not GHK-Cu. Not a pigment-drug trial. | GHK-Cu. Proof that KPV is a full MC1 agonist. Blend. |
| Dalmasso, Charrier-Hisamuddin, Nguyen, Yan, Sitaraman, Merlin, 2008 PMID 18061177. DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2007.10.026. PMC 2431115. Opened Europe PMC abstract. Component-level. |
Caco2-BBE, HT29-Cl.19A, Jurkat; DSS- and TNBS-colitis mice (KPV in drinking water) | KPV (Lys-Pro-Val) | Nanomolar KPV inhibited NF-κB and MAP kinase activation and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion; authors conclude action via PepT1 in immune and intestinal epithelial cells; oral KPV reduced incidence of DSS- and TNBS-colitis by histology and cytokine mRNA. Opening sentence: mechanisms “still remain unknown.” Authors’ “might be a new therapeutic agent for IBD” is not an approved indication. Cells + mice. Not GHK-Cu. Not human IBD. | GHK-Cu present. Human IBD. SRP dual-vial PepT1 data. |
| Kannengiesser, Maaser, Heidemann, Luegering, Ross, Brzoska, Bohm, Luger, Domschke, Kucharzik, 2008 PMID 18092346. DOI 10.1002/ibd.20334. Opened abstract. Component-level. |
Mice: DSS colitis; CD45RB(hi) transfer colitis; MC1Re/e (nonfunctional MC1) + DSS | KPV / α-MSH(11-13) | DSS: earlier recovery, stronger body-weight regain, reduced histologic infiltrates, reduced colonic MPO. Transfer colitis: recovery, weight regain, reduced histology. MC1Re/e: KPV rescued all animals in the treatment group from death during DSS colitis. Authors: effects at least partially independent of MC1R; “interesting therapeutic option” is not a human approval. Mouse. Not the blend. | GHK-Cu. Human IBD approval. Blend. |
| Brzoska, Luger, Maaser, Abels, Böhm, 2007 PMID 17934097. DOI 10.1136/ard.2007.079780. Opened abstract. Secondary review. Component-level. |
Review of α-MSH-related peptides | α-MSH; states most anti-inflammatory activities “can be attributed to its C-terminal tripeptide KPV”; introduces K(D)PT as a different tripeptide | Secondary. Useful for KPV ≠ K(D)PT ≠ α-MSH. Not a GHK-Cu paper. Not a blend test. | Combination data. GHK-Cu efficacy. |
C. Blend-specific papers
None opened. No combination papers. Snapshot C is empty of GHK-Cu + KPV co-administration experiments. Europe PMC combination queries returned only multi-tripeptide reviews, not combination tests. The 50/10 mg ratio is a vendor listing, not a published combination dose. Combination untested as a unit.
| Record | What it is | Why it is not blend-efficacy evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Adnan et al., 2025 PMID 41209547. DOI 10.7150/ijms.118118. PMC 12595317. Opened abstract. Not a combination test. |
Review of tripeptides in wound healing (2016–2025) | Discusses GHK-based formulations (TriHex etc.) and, separately, KPV-loaded hydrogels. Does not report a GHK-Cu + KPV co-administration experiment or the 50/10 SRP ratio. Unused as blend efficacy. |
| Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions, 2026 PMID 42123471. DOI 10.3390/ijms27093890. Opened abstract. Not a combination test. |
Broad peptide review | Abstract does not describe a GHK-Cu + KPV combination trial. Unused as blend efficacy beyond documenting the Europe PMC combination-query hit. |
ClinicalTrials.gov query.term=GHK-Cu KPV |
0 studies | No blend NCT. Do not invent one. GHK-Cu term hits (NCT07437586, NCT07706361, NCT05932732) are unused / not blend. |
Gaps in the opened record
These are gaps in the opened record. Treating any of them as settled is incorrect. The blend remains combination untested as a unit. 50/10 mg is a vendor listing, not a published combination dose.
No blend-specific clinical evidence
No opened paper, NCT, or registry record tested GHK-Cu plus KPV together, at 50/10 or any other ratio. Europe PMC combination queries returned only two multi-tripeptide reviews. ClinicalTrials.gov returned zero blend studies.
No proof the vial is copper-complexed GHK plus authentic KPV
SRP prints names and milligrams, not sequences, CAS, UNII, copper:peptide ratio, or a public COA. Siméon 2000 showed GHK alone ≠ GHK-Cu ≠ copper ions on MMP-2. A mis-complexed lot would not match the GHK-Cu papers.
No FDA-approved therapeutic use
No opened approval of this blend, of injectable GHK-Cu, or of KPV. openFDA: no Drugs@FDA hit for prezatide / the two UNIIs / KPV. The live GHK-Cu dedicated guide: no FDA-approved injectable GHK-Cu drug. NCATS 2011 / Volu-Firm is inactive-ingredient cosmetic context.
No IUPHAR ligand for GHK, GHK-Cu, or KPV
Receptor assignment for either component is incomplete; for the blend it is absent. IUPHAR distinction ligands (α-MSH 1320, MC1 282, MT-II 1323, bremelanotide 10408, afamelanotide 1324, Cu2+ 4164) are not this vial.
Human injectable GHK-Cu efficacy is not established
Opened GHK-Cu primary work is fibroblast culture and rat wound chambers, plus one irradiated-fibroblast explant paper. Pickart reviews mention human cosmetic/wound language; those review sentences were not re-opened as primary RCTs here. NCT07437586 is a recruiting topical gel study with no results.
Human efficacy of KPV is not established
Opened KPV work is mouse dermatitis/edema, keratinocyte signaling, and mouse colitis. 0 KPV NCTs. PepT1-mediated uptake (Dalmasso 2008) is not shown for an SRP dual vial, for skin fibroblasts, or in the presence of GHK-Cu.
Topical cosmetic GHK-Cu ≠ injectable research vial ≠ dual blend
CIR topical safety language and HydraFacial booster ingredients are not parenteral characterization. NCT05932732 is a multi-ingredient cosmetic-procedure study, not a GHK-Cu drug trial and not KPV.
α-MSH / melanotan / PT-141 findings are not KPV and not blend
KdPT / K(D)PT is a different tripeptide (Brzoska 2007). Ac-KPV-NH2 analog SAR is not automatically free-acid KPV (Hiltz 1991). MC1-independent mouse-colitis rescue (Kannengiesser 2008) is not a human IBD result and is not a GHK-Cu result.
No opened PK, bioavailability, or copper-load study applies to an SRP 50/10 vial. Historical 10−9 M fibroblast concentrations and 2 mg rat-chamber injections are not instructions. No opened compatibility, aggregation, or copper-transfer study of GHK-Cu co-lyophilized with KPV. No opened chronic toxicology, carcinogenicity, or reproductive-tox package for the blend. 50/10 mg is not a published combination dose.
| Popular claim | Status after this review |
|---|---|
| “The blend is a studied recovery / skin stack with clinical evidence” | False on the opened record. Component literatures only; 0 blend papers; 0 blend NCTs. Combination untested. |
| “GHK-Cu papers prove the 50/10 vial works” | Unsupported. Those papers did not include KPV. Component-level only. |
| “KPV colitis / dermatitis papers prove the blend” | Unsupported. Those papers did not include GHK-Cu. Component-level only. |
| “It is α-MSH / melanotan / PT-141 in a skin vial” | False identity. Different sequences, IUPHAR ligands, and (for bremelanotide/afamelanotide) regulated products. |
| “It is just copper” | False. Siméon 2000 separates copper ions, free GHK, and GHK-Cu. KPV contains no copper. |
| “It is GHK-Cu alone” | False. Second peptide is listed. Standalone GHK-Cu is a different SRP SKU (100 mg). |
| “CAS 89030-95-5 on CID 378611” | Not on the opened CID 378611 page. CAS 89030-95-5 appears on CID 71587328, NCATS UNII 6BJQ43T1I9, and FDA SRS. |
| “KPV has a UNII / IUPHAR ligand / NCT” | Not on opened pages. |
| “Injectable GHK-Cu is FDA-approved” | False on opened dedicated guide, NCATS drug-approval fields, and openFDA prezatide searches. |
| Research vial = Maquart chamber lot or Hiltz 1989 tripeptide | Not established. No public COA / sequence / termini / copper occupancy. |
Key papers as short cards
Each card is a single opened record. GHK-Cu cards are labeled component-level and are not blend efficacy. KPV cards are labeled component-level and are not GHK-Cu efficacy. Reviews that name both tripeptides are not combination tests. Historical fibroblast concentrations and 2 mg rat-chamber injections are study conditions, not instructions. No blend NCT is attached because ClinicalTrials.gov returned 0 blend studies.
Maquart et al., 1988 — FEBS Lett
Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. GHK-Cu stimulated fibroblast collagen synthesis from 10−12–10−11 M, maximal at 10−9 M, independent of cell number. GHK isolated from human plasma with affinity for Cu(II). Cell culture. Not KPV. Not the blend. Not human. PMID 3169264. DOI 10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-x.
Wegrowski, Maquart, Borel, 1992 — Life Sci
Stimulation of sulfated glycosaminoglycan synthesis by GHK-Cu. Biphasic, maximal at 10−9 to 10−8 M; dermatan / heparan sulfate preference; no hyaluronic-acid effect in this abstract. Cell culture. Not the blend. PMID 1522753. DOI 10.1016/0024-3205(92)90504-i.
Maquart et al., 1993 — J Clin Invest
In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by GHK-Cu in rat experimental wounds. Schilling chambers vs saline; concentration-dependent ECM accumulation; collagen twice noncollagen; type I/III mRNA up; TGF-β mRNA not; Glu-His-Pro control negative. Rat local chamber. Not KPV. Not human. PMID 8227353. DOI 10.1172/jci116842. PMC 288419.
Siméon et al., 1999 — J Invest Dermatol
Expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinases in wounds: modulation by GHK-Cu. Serial 2 mg chamber injections. Interstitial collagenase unchanged; later-stage pro- and active MMP-2 increase (days 18/22); MMP-9 persistence. Rat. 2 mg chamber injections are not an SRP-vial instruction. PMID 10383745. DOI 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1999.00606.x.
Siméon, Emonard, Hornebeck, Maquart, 2000 — Life Sci
GHK-Cu stimulates MMP-2 expression by fibroblast cultures. Effect reproduced by copper ions but not by GHK alone; TIMP-1/2 up. Forbids equating free GHK, copper salt, and GHK-Cu. Matches the live GHK-Cu dedicated-guide MMP-2 source. Not KPV. Not the blend. PMID 11045606. DOI 10.1016/s0024-3205(00)00803-1.
Siméon, Wegrowski, Bontemps, Maquart, 2000 — J Invest Dermatol
Expression of glycosaminoglycans and small proteoglycans in wounds: modulation by GHK-Cu. 2 mg injections; type I collagen and GAG up; decorin mRNA up / biglycan down in chamber; fibroblast cultures reproduce decorin, not biglycan change. Rat + cell culture. Not the blend. PMID 11121126. DOI 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2000.00166.x.
Pollard, Quan, Kang, Koch, 2005 — Arch Facial Plast Surg
Effects of copper tripeptide on growth and growth-factor expression by normal and irradiated fibroblasts. GHK-Cu 1×10−9 M in serum-free culture; faster doubling; irradiated fibroblasts approach untreated-normal doubling; early bFGF/VEGF increase. Ex vivo, not a clinical RCT. Not KPV. PMID 15655171. DOI 10.1001/archfaci.7.1.27.
Pickart, 2008 — J Biomater Sci Polym Ed
The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. Catalog of remodeling-related claims. Human cosmetic sentences not used as primary findings for this blend page. Does not test KPV. PMID 18644225. DOI 10.1163/156856208784909435.
Pickart, Vasquez-Soltero, Margolina, 2015 — Biomed Res Int
GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Also cited on NCATS description pages. Gene-count claim not independently re-opened as primary data here. Not a combination trial. PMID 26236730. DOI 10.1155/2015/648108.
Hiltz & Lipton, 1989 — FASEB J
Antiinflammatory activity of a COOH-terminal fragment of the neuropeptide alpha-MSH. α-MSH[11-13] dose-related inhibition of picryl-chloride mouse ear swelling vs saline. 1989 hypothesis about future peptide drugs is not an approval. Mouse. Not GHK-Cu. Not the blend. PMID 2550304. DOI 10.1096/fasebj.3.11.2550304.
Hiltz & Lipton, 1990 — Peptides
Alpha-MSH peptides inhibit acute inflammation and contact sensitivity. Mouse paw edema + contact sensitivity; C-terminal tripeptide included. Mouse. Not the blend. PMID 2284205. DOI 10.1016/0196-9781(90)90020-6.
Hiltz, Catania, Lipton, 1991 — Peptides
Anti-inflammatory activity of alpha-MSH(11-13) analogs. Ac-α-MSH(11-13)-NH2 and D-analogs. D-Pro12 inactive. Amidated/acetylated analog SAR, not automatically CID 125672 free acid. PMID 1788140. DOI 10.1016/0196-9781(91)90131-8.
Elliott et al., 2004 — J Invest Dermatol
alpha-MSH, MSH 11-13 KPV and ACTH signalling in human keratinocyte cells. No cAMP elevation in HaCaT/NHK to α-MSH, KPV, or ACTH; Ca2+ in restricted conditions; CHO-MC1 transfectants. Not GHK-Cu. Not a pigment-drug trial. PMID 15102092. DOI 10.1111/j.0022-202x.2004.22404.x.
Dalmasso et al., 2008 — Gastroenterology
PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation. Nanomolar NF-κB/MAPK inhibition; PepT1 uptake; oral KPV in DSS/TNBS mice. Opening sentence: mechanisms still remain unknown. Authors’ IBD-agent sentence is not an approved indication. Cells + mice. Not GHK-Cu. Not human IBD. PMID 18061177. DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2007.10.026. PMC 2431115.
Kannengiesser et al., 2008 — Inflamm Bowel Dis
Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of IBD. DSS + transfer colitis; MC1Re/e rescue-from-death statement; at least partially independent of MC1R. Mouse. Not the blend. Not a human approval. PMID 18092346. DOI 10.1002/ibd.20334.
Brzoska, Luger, Maaser, Abels, Böhm, 2007 — Ann Rheum Dis
alpha-MSH related peptides: a new class of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating drugs. Most α-MSH anti-inflammatory activities attributed to KPV; K(D)PT is a different tripeptide. Secondary. Not a GHK-Cu paper. Not a blend test. PMID 17934097. DOI 10.1136/ard.2007.079780.
Adnan et al., 2025 — Int J Med Sci
Exploring the Role of Tripeptides in Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration. Names GHK-based formulations and KPV-loaded hydrogels in separate sentences. No GHK-Cu + KPV co-administration experiment. Unused as blend efficacy. PMID 41209547. DOI 10.7150/ijms.118118. PMC 12595317.
Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions, 2026 — Int J Mol Sci
Broad peptide review. Abstract does not describe a GHK-Cu + KPV trial. Unused as findings beyond documenting the Europe PMC combination-query hit. Combination untested. PMID 42123471. DOI 10.3390/ijms27093890.
Research-only caution
GHK-Cu + KPV is an investigational two-component laboratory research mixture. It is not an FDA-approved drug for human use. This page is educational. It does not provide dosing, reconstitution, administration, or any human-use instructions. The 50/10 mg pair is a vendor listing, not a published combination dose.
Simple Research Peptides (SRP) materials are for laboratory research only and are not for human or veterinary use, consumption, administration, diagnosis, treatment, or therapeutic application.
Laboratory identity is the first practical issue. This listing is two analytical objects. Opened registries describe GHK-Cu as prezatide copper (CID 71587328; CAS 89030-95-5; UNII 6BJQ43T1I9; INCI Copper tripeptide-1; parent free peptide CID 73587 / CAS 49557-75-7 / UNII 39TG2H631E). CID 378611 is unspecified-stereo Cu-GHK with no CAS xref — do not use it as the L,L complex. KPV is CID 125672 / CAS 67727-97-3 / H-Lys-Pro-Val-OH; no UNII; no IUPHAR ligand. SRP product pages do not print sequences, CAS, UNII, copper stoichiometry, or a public COA. A method written for GHK-Cu alone, KPV alone, α-MSH, melanotan II, bremelanotide, afamelanotide, ACTH, K(D)PT, or a copper salt is not automatically valid for this dual cake.
Confirm both peptide identities, copper complexation, KPV termini, ratio, purity, and compatibility by LC-MS before treating a vial as either literature stream. Independently sourced research peptides are not established as equivalent to Maquart chamber lots or Hiltz 1989 tripeptide. Siméon 2000 (PMID 11045606) showed GHK alone ≠ GHK-Cu ≠ copper ions on MMP-2. Historical 10−9 M fibroblast concentrations and 2 mg rat-chamber injections are study conditions from those papers. They are not a reconstitution scheme and they are not a use guide for an SRP 50/10 research vial.
Biological inference has the same problem. The opened record is two separate component literatures plus zero combination papers and zero blend NCTs. Do not merge GHK-Cu evidence into KPV claims or the reverse. Combination untested as a unit.
Common questions
Is GHK-Cu + KPV one molecule?
No. It is a two-component research mixture. GHK-Cu is a copper complex of Gly-His-Lys. KPV is Lys-Pro-Val. Opened registries issue separate CIDs, formulas, and (for GHK-Cu) a separate UNII. There is no blend CID.
Did any opened paper test the combination?
No. Europe PMC combination queries returned only multi-tripeptide reviews (PMID 41209547; PMID 42123471). ClinicalTrials.gov returned zero blend studies. Combination untested as a unit.
Is the 50/10 mg ratio a published dose?
No. It is the mass pair printed on the SRP listing. Using opened MW values it is about 5:1 by mass and about 4.3:1 by mole. That arithmetic is not a protocol and is not evidence that 50/10 is a studied combination.
Is GHK-Cu the same as free GHK?
No. CID 73587 is free prezatide (CAS 49557-75-7, UNII 39TG2H631E). The copper complex is UNII 6BJQ43T1I9 / CAS 89030-95-5 / CID 71587328. Siméon 2000: MMP-2 increase from GHK-Cu was reproduced by copper ions but not by GHK alone (PMID 11045606). Do not use CID 378611 as the L,L complex.
Is KPV the same as α-MSH, melanotan II, or PT-141?
No. KPV is the C-terminal tripeptide of α-MSH. α-MSH is IUPHAR ligand 1320. Melanotan II is ligand 1323. Bremelanotide (PT-141, Vyleesi®) is ligand 10408, FDA 2019 — a different, cyclic, approved-drug molecule in a regulated product.
Does KPV work through MC1 like α-MSH?
Not established as a complete receptor assignment. IUPHAR lists no KPV ligand. Kannengiesser 2008 reported DSS-colitis rescue in mice with nonfunctional MC1 (PMID 18092346). Dalmasso 2008 proposed PepT1-mediated uptake (PMID 18061177). Elliott 2004 reported no cAMP response in keratinocytes (PMID 15102092).
Is there human clinical evidence for injectable use of this vial?
No opened NCT or trial result supports that. GHK-Cu human-adjacent records on CT.gov are a recruiting topical gel study (NCT07437586), a patch study that measures circulating GHK (NCT07706361), and a HydraFacial booster study (NCT05932732). Those are unused / not blend. KPV has zero NCTs.
Does the SRP page prove copper complexation and dual identity?
No. It prints names, 50/10 mg, ≥99% purity as a bullet, and “COA available,” but does not display sequences, CAS, UNII, copper stoichiometry, or a public COA file.
Can these findings be used as dosing or administration instructions?
No. SRP listings are for laboratory research only and are not for human or animal use. This page does not provide reconstitution, administration, or dosing instructions. Historical 10−9 M and 2 mg chamber figures are study conditions, not instructions.
Does this page contradict the live GHK-Cu dedicated guide?
No. That guide’s identity (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine copper complex), fibroblast MMP-2 / collagen framing, “no FDA-approved injectable GHK-Cu drug,” and route warning (topical ≠ injectable) are retained. This page adds the second molecule and the absence of combination tests.
Is there a dedicated KPV research guide?
Not on the opened URL. /research-compound-directory/kpv-research-guide/ returned 404 on 16 August 2026. Standalone KPV is a different SRP 10 mg listing.
Does this page include human dosing?
No. There is no human dosing, reconstitution, or administration protocol on this page. 50/10 mg is a vendor listing, not a published combination dose. Research use only. Not medical advice. Not for human use.
Citations used on this page
Sources actually opened for this draft. Do not add PMIDs or NCTs that are not on the allowed list. ClinicalTrials.gov returned 0 blend studies; no blend NCT is listed. GHK-Cu papers are component-level. KPV papers are component-level. Reviews that name both are not combination tests.
- Maquart FX, Pickart L, Laurent M, Gillery P, Monboisse JC, Borel JP. Stimulation of collagen synthesis in fibroblast cultures by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. FEBS Lett. 1988;238(2):343-346. PMID 3169264. DOI 10.1016/0014-5793(88)80509-x. GHK-Cu fibroblast collagen. Abstract. Component-level.
- Wegrowski Y, Maquart FX, Borel JP. Stimulation of sulfated glycosaminoglycan synthesis by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. Life Sci. 1992;51(13):1049-1056. PMID 1522753. DOI 10.1016/0024-3205(92)90504-i. GHK-Cu fibroblast GAG. Abstract. Component-level.
- Maquart FX, Bellon G, Chaqour B, et al. In vivo stimulation of connective tissue accumulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ in rat experimental wounds. J Clin Invest. 1993;92(5):2368-2376. PMID 8227353. DOI 10.1172/jci116842. PMC 288419. Rat wound chamber. Abstract. Component-level.
- Siméon A, Monier F, Emonard H, et al. Expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinases in wounds: modulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+. J Invest Dermatol. 1999;112(6):957-964. PMID 10383745. DOI 10.1046/j.1523-1747.1999.00606.x. Rat chamber MMP-2/9. Abstract. Component-level.
- Siméon A, Emonard H, Hornebeck W, Maquart FX. The tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ stimulates matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression by fibroblast cultures. Life Sci. 2000;67(18):2257-2265. PMID 11045606. DOI 10.1016/s0024-3205(00)00803-1. GHK-Cu vs GHK vs Cu2+ on MMP-2. Abstract. Component-level.
- Siméon A, Wegrowski Y, Bontemps Y, Maquart FX. Expression of glycosaminoglycans and small proteoglycans in wounds: modulation by the tripeptide-copper complex glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu(2+). J Invest Dermatol. 2000;115(6):962-968. PMID 11121126. DOI 10.1046/j.1523-1747.2000.00166.x. Rat chamber GAG/decorin. Abstract. Component-level.
- Pollard JD, Quan S, Kang T, Koch RJ. Effects of copper tripeptide on the growth and expression of growth factors by normal and irradiated fibroblasts. Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2005;7(1):27-31. PMID 15655171. DOI 10.1001/archfaci.7.1.27. Ex vivo irradiated fibroblasts. Abstract. Component-level.
- Pickart L. The human tri-peptide GHK and tissue remodeling. J Biomater Sci Polym Ed. 2008;19(8):969-988. PMID 18644225. DOI 10.1163/156856208784909435. Secondary GHK review. Not combination.
- Pickart L, Vasquez-Soltero JM, Margolina A. GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:648108. PMID 26236730. DOI 10.1155/2015/648108. Secondary GHK review; NCATS description cite. Not combination.
- Hiltz ME, Lipton JM. Antiinflammatory activity of a COOH-terminal fragment of the neuropeptide alpha-MSH. FASEB J. 1989;3(11):2282-2284. PMID 2550304. DOI 10.1096/fasebj.3.11.2550304. Mouse ear swelling; α-MSH[11-13]. Abstract. Component-level.
- Hiltz ME, Lipton JM. Alpha-MSH peptides inhibit acute inflammation and contact sensitivity. Peptides. 1990;11(5):979-982. PMID 2284205. DOI 10.1016/0196-9781(90)90020-6. Mouse edema / contact sensitivity. Abstract. Component-level.
- Hiltz ME, Catania A, Lipton JM. Anti-inflammatory activity of alpha-MSH(11-13) analogs: influences of alteration in stereochemistry. Peptides. 1991;12(4):767-771. PMID 1788140. DOI 10.1016/0196-9781(91)90131-8. Ac-amide analog SAR. Abstract. Component-level.
- Elliott RJ, Szabo M, Wagner MJ, Kemp EH, MacNeil S, Haycock JW. alpha-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone, MSH 11-13 KPV and adrenocorticotropic hormone signalling in human keratinocyte cells. J Invest Dermatol. 2004;122(4):1010-1019. PMID 15102092. DOI 10.1111/j.0022-202x.2004.22404.x. Keratinocyte cAMP/Ca2+. Abstract. Component-level.
- Dalmasso G, Charrier-Hisamuddin L, Nguyen HT, Yan Y, Sitaraman S, Merlin D. PepT1-mediated tripeptide KPV uptake reduces intestinal inflammation. Gastroenterology. 2008;134(1):166-178. PMID 18061177. DOI 10.1053/j.gastro.2007.10.026. PMC 2431115. PepT1 / mouse colitis. Abstract. Component-level.
- Kannengiesser K, Maaser C, Heidemann J, et al. Melanocortin-derived tripeptide KPV has anti-inflammatory potential in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2008;14(3):324-331. PMID 18092346. DOI 10.1002/ibd.20334. DSS / transfer / MC1Re/e mice. Abstract. Component-level.
- Brzoska T, Luger TA, Maaser C, Abels C, Böhm M. alpha-MSH related peptides: a new class of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating drugs. Ann Rheum Dis. 2007;66 Suppl 3:iii52-iii55. PMID 17934097. DOI 10.1136/ard.2007.079780. Secondary; KPV vs K(D)PT distinction. Not combination.
- Adnan SB, Maarof M, Fauzi MB, Fadilah NIM. Exploring the Role of Tripeptides in Wound Healing and Skin Regeneration: A Comprehensive Review. Int J Med Sci. 2025;22(16):4175-4200. PMID 41209547. DOI 10.7150/ijms.118118. PMC 12595317. Review naming GHK and KPV separately — not a combination test.
- Therapeutic Peptides in Aesthetic, Metabolic and Endocrine Conditions. Int J Mol Sci. 2026. PMID 42123471. DOI 10.3390/ijms27093890. Broad review; unused as blend efficacy.
- ClinicalTrials.gov records NCT07437586, NCT07706361, NCT05932732 (GHK-Cu term hits; not blend trials; unused / not blend), and API v2 zero-result queries for the blend and for KPV, opened 16 August 2026. No blend NCT. Do not invent one.
- PubChem CID 73587 (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine / prezatide; CAS 49557-75-7; UNII 39TG2H631E). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/73587
- PubChem CID 71587328 (prezatide copper; CAS 89030-95-5; UNII-6BJQ43T1I9). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/71587328
- PubChem CID 378611 (Cu-GHK, unspecified stereo; no CAS xref) and CID 342538 (unspecified-stereo GHK) and CID 10111685 (NCATS InChIKey match). Distinction only.
- PubChem CID 125672 (Msh (11-13) / Lys-Pro-Val; CAS 67727-97-3). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/125672
- NCATS Inxight PREZATIDE UNII 39TG2H631E. https://drugs.ncats.io/drug/39TG2H631E
- NCATS Inxight PREZATIDE COPPER UNII 6BJQ43T1I9. https://drugs.ncats.io/drug/6BJQ43T1I9
- FDA SRS UNII 39TG2H631E and 6BJQ43T1I9. https://precision.fda.gov/uniisearch/srs/unii/39TG2H631E and https://precision.fda.gov/uniisearch/srs/unii/6BJQ43T1I9
- IUPHAR/BPS: no GHK/KPV ligands; α-MSH ligand 1320; MT-II 1323; bremelanotide 10408; afamelanotide 1324; Cu2+ 4164; MC1 target 282. Opened 16 August 2026.
- SRP pages (opened 16 August 2026): blend product http://simpleresearchpeptides.com/product/ghk-cu-kpv-50-10-mg-vial/ ; GHK-Cu 100 mg; KPV 10 mg; index; live GHK-Cu dedicated guide http://simpleresearchpeptides.com/research-compound-directory/ghk-cu-research-guide/. KPV dedicated guide 404. For laboratory research only. Not for human or animal use.
Allowed PMID list used on this page (GHK-Cu component): 3169264, 1522753, 8227353, 10383745, 11045606, 11121126, 15655171. Secondary GHK reviews: 18644225, 26236730. KPV component: 2550304, 2284205, 1788140, 15102092, 18061177, 18092346. KPV secondary: 17934097. Both-named reviews (not combination tests): 41209547, 42123471. PMID logged unused (opened, no abstract, unused as findings): 4349963, 4356974, 3670089. NCT: none for the blend. Distinction only (unused / not blend): NCT07437586, NCT07706361, NCT05932732. Opened PMC: PMC288419 (Maquart 1993; abstract used); PMC2431115 (Dalmasso 2008; abstract used); PMC12595317 (Adnan 2025 review; unused as combination). No other PMIDs were added. No blend NCT was invented.
Educational information only. The SRP listing GHK-Cu + KPV (50/10 mg Vial) is a two-component research mixture of GHK-Cu / prezatide copper (CID 71587328; CAS 89030-95-5; UNII 6BJQ43T1I9; INCI Copper tripeptide-1) and KPV / α-MSH(11–13) (CID 125672; CAS 67727-97-3; H-Lys-Pro-Val-OH). It is not a single defined drug, not GHK-Cu alone, not KPV alone, not free GHK (CID 73587; CAS 49557-75-7; UNII 39TG2H631E), not α-MSH, not melanotan II, not bremelanotide / PT-141, not afamelanotide, not ACTH, not K(D)PT, and not a copper salt. GHK ≠ GHK-Cu ≠ Cu2+ (Siméon 2000, PMID 11045606). No opened paper tested the combination. Combination untested as a unit. 0 blend NCT. 50/10 mg is a vendor listing, not a published combination dose. CID 378611 is unspecified-stereo Cu-GHK with no CAS xref — do not use as the L,L complex. Not FDA-approved. Historical 10−9 M fibroblast concentrations and 2 mg rat-chamber injections are study conditions, not instructions. Laboratory research use only; not for human or animal use. Not medical advice. Not for human use. No human dosing protocol. Last source review: 16 August 2026 (America/Indianapolis). Locked draft converted to HTML the same day. For laboratory research only. Not for human or veterinary use.