Research peptides are far easier to understand as families grouped by what they signal than as a long list of names.

Peptides - Compounds

How research peptides are grouped into families

Last reviewed 13 August 2026. How we write this.

Research peptides are far easier to understand as families grouped by what they signal than as a long list of names.

Start here

Research peptides are far easier to understand as families grouped by what they signal than as a long list of names.

By the end, you will understand

We deliberately do not walk through named compounds one by one, because the point of this classroom is to give you a framework rather than a shopping list. What matters is the pattern: each family targets a different signalling pathway, each has a very different depth of evidence behind it, and grouping them this way makes it far easier to ask the right question - "how strong is the human evidence for this family, for this use?"

Key words used in this lesson

Incretin: A gut hormone released in response to food that influences insulin release, stomach emptying and appetite signalling. GLP-1 and GIP are the two best studied.

Full plain-English glossary

The list of research peptides is long and the names are off-putting. It becomes much more manageable when you group them by the kind of signal they send rather than trying to memorise each one. Most fall into a handful of broad families.

Repair and recovery peptides - studied for their signalling role in tissue, connective structures and healing processes.
Growth-hormone secretagogues - studied for their ability to prompt the body to release its own growth hormone.
Metabolic peptides - including the incretin family, which is behind a lot of recent research interest in metabolic signalling.
Cosmetic and skin peptides - studied largely in topical, rather than injectable, contexts.
Other signalling peptides - a broad bucket covering pigmentation, sleep, immune and neurological research.

We deliberately do not walk through named compounds one by one, because the point of this classroom is to give you a framework rather than a shopping list. What matters is the pattern: each family targets a different signalling pathway, each has a very different depth of evidence behind it, and grouping them this way makes it far easier to ask the right question - "how strong is the human evidence for this family, for this use?"

Regulatory note: many of these compounds are not approved as medicines in the UK. This is educational background, not an endorsement or a recommendation to obtain or use any of them.

Metabolic and incretin compounds - individual guides

Retatrutide (9 min read)
Tirzepatide (9 min read)
Semaglutide (9 min read)
AOD-9604 (7 min read)
5-Amino-1MQ (7 min read)

Neuro and sleep compounds - individual guides

Semax (7 min read)
Selank (7 min read)
DSIP (Delta Sleep-Inducing Peptide) (7 min read)
Epithalon (7 min read)

Reproductive-axis compounds - individual guides

Kisspeptin (7 min read)
Gonadorelin (7 min read)

Related in this classroom

Recovery and repair peptides, explained (9 min read)
Growth-hormone secretagogues, explained (9 min read)
What are peptides? A beginner’s primer (8 min read)
BPC-157 (8 min read)

The studies behind this page

Therapeutic peptides: historical perspectives, current development trends, and future directions - Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry, 2018
Development of peptide therapeutics: a nonclinical safety assessment perspective - Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 2020

Sources for this classroom

Educational content only. Not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing your health regimen.