New here? Read this entire page before starting any research protocol. It covers the fundamentals that will save you time, money, and mistakes.
What Are Research Peptides?
Peptides are short chains of amino acids — the same building blocks that make up proteins, just shorter. They occur naturally throughout the body and act as signaling molecules, telling cells to do specific things: heal, grow, release hormones, reduce inflammation, etc. Research peptides are synthesized versions of these naturally occurring molecules (or analogues designed to mimic or amplify their effects), produced for laboratory research and study.
The "research" designation matters legally: these compounds are sold for research and educational purposes, not for human consumption. The actual legal and regulatory landscape varies by country and compound — some peptides (like sermorelin and tesamorelin) have FDA approval for specific medical uses; most do not.
The Major Categories
GLP-1 Peptides (Metabolic/Weight)
Semaglutide, tirzepatide, and retatrutide are the most researched compounds for metabolic and weight-related research. They work by mimicking gut hormones that regulate appetite, insulin, and metabolism. The clinical trial data for this category is the most robust of any peptide class — these have gone through Phase 3 trials with thousands of participants.
→ Retatrutide | Tirzepatide | Semaglutide
Healing Peptides
BPC-157 and TB-500 are the flagship healing peptides — used in research on injury recovery, tissue repair, and inflammation. They have extensive animal model data and are among the most popular peptides in the research community for recovery-focused protocols.
→ BPC-157 | TB-500 | BPC + TB-500 Stack
Growth Hormone Peptides
GHRH analogues (sermorelin, CJC-1295, tesamorelin) and GH releasing peptides (ipamorelin) stimulate the pituitary to produce growth hormone naturally. Used in anti-aging, body composition, and recovery research.
→ CJC-1295 + Ipamorelin | Sermorelin | Tesamorelin
Longevity Peptides
NAD+, MOTS-c, and GHK-Cu address fundamental aging mechanisms at the cellular level — mitochondrial function, gene expression, cellular energy, and tissue maintenance.
Nootropic Peptides
Semax and Selank are Russian-developed peptides with cognitive enhancement and anxiolytic properties respectively. Both have clinical usage in Russia and growing research interest in Western communities.
What You Need to Start: The Essentials
- The peptide vials — lyophilized (freeze-dried) powder that needs reconstitution
- Bacteriostatic water — for reconstitution. Non-negotiable. See our full guide.
- Insulin syringes (U-100) — for precise dosing. Available at most pharmacies.
- Alcohol swabs — for sterilizing vial tops before each use
The Most Important Sourcing Principle
This cannot be overstated: the quality of your research compounds matters enormously. The research peptide space has significant variance between vendors. Most peptides sold online come from overseas manufacturers — often Chinese chemical suppliers — with inconsistent quality control, variable purity, and no meaningful manufacturing standards.
The difference between a GMP-manufactured domestic peptide and an overseas cheap alternative can be significant in research outcomes. For peptides you're taking seriously, domestic US manufacturing from a GMP facility is the standard worth paying for.
After extensive testing, our top recommendation is UNYX Peptides — one of the only US-based vendors manufacturing domestically at a GMP-certified Arizona facility. Every peptide on this site is available there.
- Made in the USA — GMP Arizona facility, not overseas-sourced like most vendors
- Independently tested for purity — among the highest-quality peptides available domestically
- Full catalog: every peptide on this site available in one place
- Same-day fulfillment · bac water in stock · subscribe & save