AHK-Cu
Evidence: DSkin / wound-healing / cosmetic / repair research
Evidence Snapshot
What this grade covers
A for chemical identity; D for the single direct ex-vivo/cell hair-follicle study, which is preclinical-tier evidence rather than a controlled human trial; E for human alopecia, wound healing, skin rejuvenation, injected-systemic benefit, approval, safety, or dosing claims.
Regulatory Context
Research copper-peptide complex; no FDA-approved medicine containing AHK-Cu was identified.
Research Takeaway
AHK-Cu is the copper complex of the tripeptide alanine-histidine-lysine and is chemically distinct from GHK-Cu, which contains glycine-histidine-lysine.
Evidence boundary: Evidence for GHK-Cu must not be automatically transferred to AHK-Cu.
See all 6 evidence claims →Quick Summary
AHK-Cu is a copper complex of the tripeptide alanine-histidine-lysine. Direct evidence located for the compound is limited primarily to ex vivo human hair follicles and cultured dermal papilla cells; administered-human efficacy and systemic safety trials were not verified.
Mechanism & Research Overview
In laboratory hair-follicle models, AHK-Cu has been studied for effects on dermal papilla cell proliferation, vascular endothelial growth factor expression, transforming growth factor-beta signaling, and apoptosis-related markers. These laboratory observations are not equivalent to demonstrated clinical hair growth.
Evidence Claims
Individual scientific statements drawn from the sources cited below, each shown with the specific evidence boundary that statement does not establish.
Supported
AHK-Cu is the copper complex of the tripeptide alanine-histidine-lysine and is chemically distinct from GHK-Cu, which contains glycine-histidine-lysine.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Evidence for GHK-Cu must not be automatically transferred to AHK-Cu.
Sources: The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro
Supported
AHK-Cu stimulated elongation of isolated human hair follicles and proliferation of cultured human dermal papilla cells in ex vivo and in vitro experiments.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Ex vivo follicle growth is not a clinical demonstration of hair regrowth in treated patients.
Sources: The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro
Supported
No FDA-approved drug product named AHK-Cu was identified in the Drugs@FDA search performed for this frozen package.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: This does not address cosmetic-ingredient status or non-U.S. jurisdictions.
Supported
The cited evidence does not establish an injectable human safety profile, systemic pharmacokinetics, or long-term adverse-event incidence for AHK-Cu.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Lack of characterized toxicity is not evidence of safety.
Sources: The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro
Supported
No controlled human therapeutic trial is included in this package that establishes AHK-Cu as a clinically effective treatment for alopecia, wound healing, or systemic regeneration.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: Cell and follicle experiments cannot be represented as patient-level efficacy.
Sources: The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro
Supported
Commercial AHK-Cu products must not inherit GHK-Cu clinical, cosmetic, or compounding evidence and must not be represented as FDA-approved therapeutics.
Does not establish
Evidence boundary: This does not make a batch-specific quality determination.
Sources: The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro; Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs Database
Safety & Evidence Limitations
Considerations reported in the sources cited on this page — not a complete list of every possible risk, and not medical advice.
Safety Consideration
No verified administered-human trial establishes efficacy or systemic safety.Safety Consideration
Evidence from GHK-Cu must not be assigned to AHK-Cu; they are distinct copper-peptide complexes.Safety Consideration
Copper content, formulation, purity, route, and exposure may materially affect risk.Safety Consideration
Cell and ex vivo concentrations are not instructions for human use.Safety Consideration
Uncertain copper-to-peptide stoichiometry, copper oxidation state and redox activity, free copper contamination, peptide/metal-related impurities, irritation and contact sensitization, cytotoxicity at excessive concentrations, oxidative stress, local inflammation, unknown systemic absorption, hepatic/neurologic copper toxicity if systemically exposed, interactions with copper disorders/Wilson disease/liver disease/supplements/chelators, product instability, and sterility/endotoxin risks for products marketed for injection all remain open. Pregnancy, pediatric, reproductive, carcinogenicity, and long-term safety are unknown. Cell and ex-vivo concentrations are not instructions for human use.
Research Areas Being Studied
Research areas discussed on this page reflect the Skin / wound-healing / cosmetic / repair research category and the sources cited below.
Findings Reported in Studies
Educational summary only — reported in cited studies, not a claim of proven benefit.
No Human Study Findings Listed Yet
See preclinical, regulatory, and review sources below.
Study Tables by Evidence Type
Human Studies & Clinical Data
No Human Studies & Clinical Data Listed Yet
This section will be updated as sources are added.
Animal / Cell / Preclinical Data
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The effect of tripeptide-copper complex on human hair growth in vitro | 2007 | Ex vivo human hair follicles and cultured human dermal papilla cells | L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine-Cu2+ (AHK-Cu) stimulated elongation of isolated human hair follicles ex vivo and proliferation of cultured dermal papilla cells. This was not a clinical treatment trial.
| No administered-human safety or efficacy conclusions can be drawn from ex vivo and cell-culture experiments. | |
| The hair follicle-stimulating properties of peptide copper complexes: results in C3H mice | 1991 | C3H mouse hair-growth model | Broader peptide-copper-complex research reported hair-follicle stimulation in mice. | This record is contextual and is not treated as direct evidence specific to AHK-Cu unless the full source confirms the exact complex. |
Regulatory Documents & Official Trial Registries
| Title | Year | Population / Model | Dose / Duration / Finding | Safety Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drugs@FDA: FDA-Approved Drugs Database | 2026 | Current Drugs@FDA name searches performed for this frozen package did not identify approved drug products under the names AHK-Cu, FOXO4-DRI, Pinealon, or Mechano Growth Factor. A negative name search does not exclude differently named products but establishes that no approval was identified under these research names. | |||
| FDA Cosmetic Versus Drug Intended-Use Guidance | FDA guidance on distinguishing cosmetic from drug intended use: a product's intended use (as shown by claims) determines whether it is regulated as a cosmetic, a drug, or both, independent of ingredient identity. Shared reference for both AHK-Cu and SNAP-8. | ||||
| FDA Wrinkle Treatments and Other Anti-Aging Products | FDA does not preapprove cosmetic ingredients or ordinary cosmetics before marketing. Claims that a topical product changes skin structure/function, increases collagen production, treats disease, or otherwise affects body function may make it a drug claim requiring approval. Shared reference for both AHK-Cu and SNAP-8 -- the FDA page does not name either compound specifically, it establishes the general cosmetic-claims regulatory boundary both pages rely on. | ||||
| PubChem AHK-Cu Identity Record | PubChem records identify AHK-Cu (the copper complex of L-alanyl-L-histidyl-L-lysine) and AHK-Cu hydrochloride as distinct chemical substance records. A database identity record is not FDA approval or clinical validation. | ||||
| PubChem GHK-Cu and Prezatide Copper Record | PubChem's GHK-Cu / prezatide copper record establishes GHK-Cu as a distinct chemical substance from AHK-Cu. Replacing the N-terminal glycine of GHK with alanine produces a different tripeptide; this record is cited for identity-boundary purposes only, not as AHK-Cu evidence. |
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice
Reported dosing patterns are included for educational context only. They are self-reported, unverified, not medical advice, and not instructions for human use. Community-submitted patterns are not yet available in this Phase 1 prototype; this section is a placeholder reserved for moderated, aggregated community data.
Lab Markers to Discuss With a Clinician
Educational topics only — not self-monitoring instructions.
FAQ
Disclaimer
Educational information only. This page summarizes published and official research and does not provide medical advice, a recommendation, or instructions for human use.
Educational use only. This content is provided for informational and research-summary purposes only. It is not medical advice, not a treatment recommendation, not a dosing guide, and not a substitute for care from a licensed medical professional. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, prevent, or mitigate disease. Reported dosing patterns, when shown elsewhere on the site, must be labeled either as Study / Trial Dosing or Anecdotal Reported Patterns — Not Medical Advice. Community reports are self-reported, unverified, and not scientific proof.
Community-reported experiences, once enabled, must be displayed only as moderated, anonymized, or aggregated data. They are anecdotal, self-reported, unverified, and should never be presented as proof of safety, efficacy, or expected results.
Content status: Content pending review. Last updated 2026-07-30.
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