🦴 Musculoskeletal peptides

A myostatin-linked muscle-growth name that remains popular in research-market and performance discussions despite limited conventional therapeutic development.

A synthetic 34-amino-acid analog of parathyroid hormone-related protein, FDA approved since 2017 as a daily anabolic osteoporosis injection, that activates the PTH type 1 receptor with a bias toward short-lived signaling to stimulate bone formation.

A synthetic 32-amino-acid copy of salmon calcitonin, FDA approved as an injection for Paget's disease of bone, hypercalcemia, and postmenopausal osteoporosis and as a nasal spray for osteoporosis, that suppresses osteoclast activity through the calcitonin receptor.

A synthetic eight-residue peptide calcimimetic built on an all-D-amino-acid backbone, FDA approved since 2017 as an intravenous injection given at the end of hemodialysis, that sensitizes the parathyroid calcium-sensing receptor and lowers parathyroid hormone in secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Recombinant 191-amino-acid human growth hormone, sequence-identical to the main 22 kDa pituitary isoform and FDA-approved for growth hormone deficiency and related conditions since the 1980s — and, unlike the secretagogues it is routinely confused with, governed by a federal distribution felony statute of its own.

The native 70-amino-acid growth factor that carries out much of growth hormone's action; its recombinant form, mecasermin, is FDA-approved for severe primary IGF-1 deficiency, while the research market mostly sells engineered analogs instead.

A once-weekly prodrug of unmodified human growth hormone in which somatropin is transiently bound to a polyethylene glycol carrier, FDA approved as Skytrofa for pediatric growth hormone deficiency in 2021 and adult growth hormone deficiency in 2025.

Ascendis Pharma's TransCon CNP, a once-weekly PEGylated prodrug of a 38-residue C-type natriuretic peptide, approved by the FDA on February 27, 2026 as Yuviwel to increase linear growth in children aged 2 and older with achondroplasia.

Long-acting prodrug of PTH(1-34) built on a transient PEG carrier (TransCon PTH), approved as Yorvipath (EU 2023, FDA 2024) as once-daily parathyroid hormone replacement therapy for adults with hypoparathyroidism.

Full-length 84-amino-acid human parathyroid hormone, the body's principal calcium-regulating hormone; its recombinant form (Natpara) was FDA approved in 2015 for hypoparathyroidism but has since been discontinued worldwide after unresolved manufacturing problems.

A once-weekly recombinant human growth hormone derivative, the 191-residue hGH protein carrying a single albumin-binding side chain, FDA approved as Sogroya for adult and pediatric growth hormone deficiency and, since 2026, three non-GHD pediatric growth disorders.

A once-weekly recombinant growth hormone fusion protein, the full hGH sequence flanked by three copies of the hCG beta-subunit C-terminal peptide, FDA approved as Ngenla for pediatric growth hormone deficiency; the adult program missed its primary endpoint.

Recombinant human parathyroid hormone fragment PTH(1-34), an FDA-approved bone-anabolic injection (Forteo, 2002) that stimulates new bone formation and reduces fracture risk in high-risk osteoporosis.

An FDA-approved C-type natriuretic peptide analog marketed as Voxzogo for achondroplasia.

A recombinant activin receptor type IIB-Fc fusion protein that traps myostatin and related TGF-beta ligands to increase muscle mass; its clinical program went on hold in 2011 after vascular adverse events and the sponsor discontinued development in 2013.

An orally active small-molecule ghrelin receptor agonist approved in Japan as Adlumiz for cancer cachexia, refused by European regulators in 2017, and never approved in the United States despite a completed phase 3 program.

A synthetic tripeptide (Ala-Glu-Asp) from the Khavinson bioregulator family, studied for cartilage-protective and geroprotective effects in preclinical models.

A GHRH analog commonly discussed in growth-hormone optimization circles and research-market peptide stacks.

A ghrelin-mimetic growth hormone secretagogue often paired with CJC-1295 in research-market discussions.

MBX Biosciences' canvuparatide, a once-weekly fatty-acylated prodrug of parathyroid hormone(1-32) for chronic hypoparathyroidism, met its phase 2 Avail responder endpoint in 2025 and entered the pivotal phase 3 oPTimize trial in August 2026.

An orally active, non-peptide ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a) agonist developed by Merck that raises pulsatile growth hormone and IGF-1 secretion; adult programs were discontinued, and the molecule is now in pediatric Phase 3 trials as LUM-201.

A mixture of DNA fragments extracted from salmonid fish sperm and studied as an adenosine A2A receptor agonist for wound healing, with prescription products in Italy and South Korea, no US approval, and no peptide structure.

A synthetic version of the active region of thymosin beta-4, commonly discussed for soft-tissue recovery and injury support.

A 15-amino acid peptide derived from human gastric juice, extensively studied for tissue regeneration, gut healing, and injury recovery across multiple systems.

The tetrasubstituted GRF(1-29) analog sold as CJC-1295 no DAC or Mod GRF 1-29: a stabilized GHRH fragment without the albumin-binding linker of CJC-1295 DAC, with no human studies of its own and no approval anywhere.

A TGF-beta superfamily protein almost identical to myostatin in its signaling domain, famous for parabiosis-era rejuvenation claims that later work either failed to reproduce or traced to antibody cross-reactivity.

A growth hormone secretagogue that appears in older GH-optimization discussions and research-market listings.

A classic growth hormone secretagogue that remains common in peptide-market catalogs despite limited mainstream clinical relevance.

The native 33-amino-acid intestinal hormone cleaved from proglucagon that drives crypt-cell proliferation, mucosal blood flow and nutrient absorption, studied in short bowel syndrome and bone turnover but never approved; its DPP-4-resistant analog teduglutide is the approved drug.

A growth hormone secretagogue and ghrelin-receptor agonist that remains a familiar legacy name in GH-peptide stacks.

A truncated IGF-1 analog that remains a familiar name in performance and tissue-growth peptide discussions.

A long-acting insulin-like growth factor analog discussed in physique and performance communities rather than approved peptide medicine.

A 112-amino-acid protein fragment shed from the muscle membrane protein FNDC5, proposed in 2012 as an exercise-induced myokine that browns white fat; its existence, measurement, and function in humans remain disputed, and it has never been administered to people.

The C-terminal E-domain peptide of the IGF-1Ec splice variant, sold on the research market as a synthetic 24-residue peptide, with rodent and cell data on muscle progenitor cells, a failed industry replication, and no human trials.

The recombinant N-terminal prodomain of GDF-8 that binds mature myostatin and holds it in a latent, inactive complex; it enlarges muscle in mice but has never been given to humans in a registered trial.

A pegylated mechano growth factor analogue often discussed in performance and recovery circles.

A synthetic analog of the first 29 residues of growth hormone-releasing hormone, approved as Geref in 1990 for diagnostic use and in 1997 for pediatric growth hormone deficiency, withdrawn in 2009 for reasons unrelated to safety, and now supplied in the United States through compounding.

An orally dosed polypeptide complex extracted from the cartilage and bone tissue of young animals, part of the natural branch of the Khavinson bioregulator line, studied almost entirely in Russian-language cell, animal, and uncontrolled clinical work.

A small-molecule ERRα/γ agonist studied as an exercise mimetic, shown to increase oxidative muscle fiber composition and endurance capacity in preclinical models.

A synthetic small molecule — not a peptide — that activates all three estrogen-related receptors and, unlike its predecessor SLU-PP-332, is orally bioavailable, studied in mice as an exercise mimetic with no published human data.

The seven-amino-acid actin-binding segment of thymosin beta-4 (residues 17-23, LKKTETQ), sold on the research market in N-acetylated form as a smaller synthetic stand-in for the full 43-amino-acid parent peptide.

The di-arginine salt form of the 15-amino-acid BPC-157 sequence, marketed as a more stable presentation of the same peptide; no peer-reviewed study or clinical trial exists under the pentadeca arginate name.