Comparison engine · up to 4 candidates

Compare side-by-side.

Pick up to four peptides. We line up evidence tier, mechanism, half-life, routes, and contraindications. Human data first — never hype.

GHK-CuMelanotan IIMelanotan I

Dimension	GHK-Cu Copper Tripeptide-1	Melanotan II MT-II	Melanotan I Afamelanotide
Evidence tier	BHuman observational	CPreclinical only	AHuman RCT evidence
Intelligence Score™	5.2/ 10 · Emerging	3.6/ 10 · Emerging	6.3/ 10 · Moderate
Family	Copper-binding tripeptide	α-MSH analogue (cyclic)	α-MSH analogue
Half-life	Short (minutes, plasma)	~33 min	~30 min (free); implant releases over months
Typical dose	1–2 mg/day (anecdotal, injectable)	Not recommended — adverse-event risk	16 mg implant every 2 months
Routes	Topical, Subcutaneous	Subcutaneous	Subcutaneous implant
Tier label	Human observational	Preclinical only	Human RCT
Mechanism	Modulates wound-healing gene expression; binds copper(II) with high affinity.	Non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist (MC1, MC3, MC4, MC5).	Melanocortin-1 receptor agonist; stimulates eumelanin production.
Reported uses	recovery-sleep	—	—
Contraindications	— Wilson's disease — Copper sensitivity	— Pregnancy — Personal/family melanoma — History of moles/dysplastic nevi	— Pregnancy — Active melanoma
Citations	1	1	1

BHuman observational

Intelligence Score™: 5.2/ 10 · Emerging
Family: Copper-binding tripeptide
Half-life: Short (minutes, plasma)
Typical dose: 1–2 mg/day (anecdotal, injectable)
Routes: Topical, Subcutaneous
Tier label: Human observational
Mechanism: Modulates wound-healing gene expression; binds copper(II) with high affinity.
Reported uses: recovery-sleep
Contraindications: — Wilson's disease
— Copper sensitivity
Citations: 1

CPreclinical only

Intelligence Score™: 3.6/ 10 · Emerging
Family: α-MSH analogue (cyclic)
Half-life: ~33 min
Typical dose: Not recommended — adverse-event risk
Routes: Subcutaneous
Tier label: Preclinical only
Mechanism: Non-selective melanocortin receptor agonist (MC1, MC3, MC4, MC5).
Reported uses: —
Contraindications: — Pregnancy
— Personal/family melanoma
— History of moles/dysplastic nevi
Citations: 1

AHuman RCT evidence

Intelligence Score™: 6.3/ 10 · Moderate
Family: α-MSH analogue
Half-life: ~30 min (free); implant releases over months
Typical dose: 16 mg implant every 2 months
Routes: Subcutaneous implant
Tier label: Human RCT
Mechanism: Melanocortin-1 receptor agonist; stimulates eumelanin production.
Reported uses: —
Contraindications: — Pregnancy
— Active melanoma
Citations: 1

Plain-English summary

Summarize this comparison — evidence depth, mechanism overlap, and the strongest unknowns.

Suggestive, never prescriptive. Discuss with a clinician. How we grade evidence.