Overview
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In plain language
GHK-Cu is a tiny natural peptide of just 3 amino acids (glycine, histidine and lysine) that grabs onto copper. It was found in human blood in 1973, and its levels drop as people get older.
In lab and animal studies, it has been linked to wound healing and the making of collagen, the protein that keeps skin firm. That is why it shows up in many skin creams and serums. It is not an FDA-approved medicine, and human evidence mostly comes from small cosmetic studies.
For students
GHK (glycyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) was identified by Loren Pickart in human plasma, where it binds Cu(II) with high affinity through the histidine imidazole, the glycine amine and a backbone nitrogen. The copper complex, GHK-Cu, is about 404 Da.
Cell and animal studies report effects on collagen and glycosaminoglycan synthesis, wound contraction, angiogenesis and antioxidant enzymes. Gene-expression database analyses suggest GHK is associated with changes in many genes, though such associations do not show what it does in people.
For researchers and instructors
Evidence base. Human data are mostly small, often industry-associated studies of topical products measuring wrinkles, skin density or elasticity. Large independent randomized trials are lacking.
Chemistry. Copper delivery may underlie many reported effects; separating peptide effects from copper effects is a recurring methodological issue.
Regulatory. Used in cosmetics; not an FDA-approved systemic therapy. Injectable products sold online are unregulated.
Molecular identity
- Amino acids
- 3
- Molecular weight
- ~403.9 Da
- Formula
- Form-dependent; verify
- Sequence
- GHK
Sequence map
Hydropathy
Kyte–Doolittle score per residue. Positive values are water-repelling.
Origin and history
GHK was discovered in 1973 by Loren Pickart, then a graduate researcher at the University of California, San Francisco. He noticed that liver tissue from older people made proteins like young tissue when bathed in blood from young people, and he traced the effect to a tiny three-amino-acid peptide in plasma: glycine-histidine-lysine.
In 1977–80 he found that GHK grabs copper tightly, forming GHK-Cu. Later labs showed it stimulates collagen production in skin cells, and GHK levels in blood fall with age. Pickart founded ProCyte Corporation to develop it for wound healing, and copper peptides became a fixture of skincare. Its use as an injectable drug is not approved.
Key people
- Loren PickartDiscovered GHK at UCSF; founded ProCyte Corporation
- François-Xavier MaquartShowed GHK-Cu stimulates collagen (1988)
Timeline
- 1973
GHK identified in human plasma
- 1977–80
Its strong copper binding is described
- 1988
Shown to stimulate collagen synthesis in fibroblasts
- 1990s
Copper peptides enter skincare
See every peptide on one history timeline.
Human evidence
Cell and animal studies dominate; topical cosmetic studies do not establish systemic treatment effects.
Study design, enrollment, endpoints, outcomes and limitations must be assessed individually; registration is not proof of efficacy.
Explore the literature for GHK-Cu and distinguish in-vitro, animal, and human findings.
Safety and regulatory status
See every compound on the regulatory tracker.
Not an FDA-approved systemic peptide therapy.
Long-term risks, formulation differences, and human safety evidence require careful review. Educational content only; not medical advice.
Sources
Hernandez Gener, E. (2026, November 7). GHK-Cu: molecular data, research history and evidence. VALREXA Biosciences. https://valrexa.com/peptides/ghk-cu.html
APA style · Last reviewed November 7, 2026 · Our editorial standardsLast reviewed November 7, 2026. Trial and regulatory status can change; confirm in the linked registries. This profile is educational and is not medical advice, a treatment recommendation, or dosing or sourcing guidance. Report an error · Corrections policy